LIVE
Sat, 08 November 2014
Live! Americans freed by North Korea in secret mission
Timeline Refresh
23:02
North Korea has released two Americans who have been held in the country for extended periods, after the director of national intelligence, James R Clapper Jr, flew to the country on a secret mission and secured their freedom.
In a terse statement issued Saturday by Clapper's office, the Americans '" Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller '" were described as "on their way home, accompanied by D.N.I. Clapper.'
Officials said they were likely to land on the West Coast, where Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller both live, some time on Saturday night.
22:34
An army jawan and a woman were killed today in firing by Pakistani troops who violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Uri sector of Kashmir.
"There was a ceasefire violation around 1715 hours leading to the death of a soldier and a woman," an army officer said.
22:33 Jerusalem should be capital of two states: top EU diplomat
The European Union's top diplomat Federica Mogherini today said that Jerusalem "should be the capital of two states", as tensions gripped the holy city hit by Israeli-Palestinian violence.
"I think Jerusalem can be and should be the capital of two states," Mogherini told reporters in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, touching on a sensitive issue that has blocked peace efforts for decades.
22:21 Burkina army declines to join transition talks
Burkina Faso's army today declined to join talks with the opposition and civilian groups on a transition government, while ousted leader Blaise Compaore blamed the military and his political opponents of jointly plotting his overthrow.
Representatives of political parties and civil society groups met in the capital Ouagadougou to hammer out a handover plan, after Compaore fled following a mass uprising against his bid to revise the constitution and extend his 27-year rule.
21:59 Rajnath Singh invites Israel defence sector to 'Make in India'
Mukhtar Ahmad reports:
An army personnel and a woman were killed today evening in firing from Pakistan along the Loc.
Pak violated the ceasefire at the Uri sector in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
More details awaited.
21:21 Rushdie son convicted of drink driving in UK
The London-based son of famous British Indian author Salman Rushdie has been convicted of drink driving after he was found asleep at the wheel of his BMW.
Zafar Rushdie, 35, pleaded guilty to the charge last week and was banned from driving for 17 months and also fined 620 pounds which he paid on the spot at a magistrates court
21:21 Huge cache of arms, ammunition seized in Assam
A huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from a vehicle and two persons arrested in this connection in Assam's Chirang district this evening.
During a search operation at Chapaguri under Dhaligaon police station, police searched a vehicle bearing West Bengal registration number plate traveling from Nagaland to Darjeeling, IGP L R Bishnoi told PTI.
21:05 Home Ministry seeks probe into security lapse at PM's Varanasi event
The Home Ministry has taken serious note of a security lapse at Varanasi's Assi Ghat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in a Ganga clean-up drive Saturday morning as part of his 'Clean India' campaign, according to sources.
Several security cameras at the venue were not functioning, the sources said, adding that some monitors in the control room failed as well. This impacted the security surveillance in a zone where the Prime Minister was at a public event; with a vast tract of the river and banks on the other side unsanitised.
21:03 Gorbachev warns world 'on brink of new Cold War'
India has invited Israel to become a partner in the 'Make in India' initiative in the defence sector even as the Jewish state expressed its desire to share cutting-edge weapons technologies with New Delhi.
These discussions were held yesterday between visiting Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon at the defence headquarters.
21:00 2 army personnel, civilian killed in avalanche in Kashmir
Two Army personnel and a porter were killed and another soldier was injured when an avalanche struck a patrol near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today, Army said.
20:07
Tensions between the major powers have pushed the world closer to a new Cold War, former Soviet leader Mikhail S Gorbachev said today.
The 83-year-old accused the West, particularly the United States, of giving in to "triumphalism' after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the communist bloc a quarter century ago. The result, he said, could partly be seen in the inability of global powers to prevent or resolve conflicts in Yugoslavia, the Middle East and most recently Ukraine.
"The world is on the brink of a new Cold War. Some are even saying that it's already begun,' Gorbachev said at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, close to the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Read more
20:06
Tensions between the major powers have pushed the world closer to a new Cold War, former Soviet leader Mikhail S Gorbachev said today.
The 83-year-old accused the West, particularly the United States, of giving in to "triumphalism' after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the communist bloc a quarter century ago. The result, he said, could partly be seen in the inability of global powers to prevent or resolve conflicts in Yugoslavia, the Middle East and most recently Ukraine.
"The world is on the brink of a new Cold War. Some are even saying that it's already begun,' Gorbachev said at an event marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, close to the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate.
Read more
20:01 1984 riots: Sikhs protest outside UN
Hundreds of Sikhs protested outside the United Nations headquarters here demanding justice in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case even as a report on the killings and human rights abuses against the community was presented to the world body.
Victims of the 1984 riots met with officials of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) here yesterday, sharing evidence and documentary evidence about riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
19:46 Assam police fire mistaking Meghalaya cops for ultras, 1 hurt
A Deputy SP ranked officer, leading a Meghalaya police team, was injured when they were fired upon by Assam policemen who mistook them for militants in a remote village in West Jaintia Hills district today, a top police official said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ploster Syiem, who was leading an operation against Karbi militants at Moolaber along the border of Assam's Karbi Anglong district, sustained injuries in his left arm when Assam policemen fired, Meghalaya Director General of Police Peter J Hanaman said.
19:40 Follow the World Chess Championship here LIVE
India's Viswanathan Anand opened his campaign with white pieces against defending champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the first game of the World Championship which got underway in Sochi on Saturday.
Follow the chess world championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Vishwanathan Anand here LIVE
19:35 BJP to recruit 10 crore new members: Javadekar
Claiming that people were impressed with the performance of Narendra Modi Government, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the party plans to induct 10 crore new members across the country by March 31.
19:12 Remains of MH17 victims may never be fully recovered: Dutch FM
The last remains of the victims from downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 might never be fully recovered, the Dutch foreign minister said today, as five more coffins were flown out of Ukraine.
"We cannot say at this moment in any certain way... at what moment and even if we can recover the last nine (victims), but we will do everything we can in cooperation with authorities here to make that happen and that work is still possible to do," Foreign Minister Bert Koenders told journalists after a ceremony at Kharkiv airport.
19:11 Over 42 hours later, four Navy personnel still missing
Four Indian Navy personnel, including an officer, were still missing over 42 hours after a Torpedo Recovery Vessel (TRV) sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam, killing at least one person.
A full-scale Search and Rescue (SAR) operation is underway by Indian Navy to trace the four personnel who were reported missing following a mishap that occurred at about 8 P.M. on November 6.
18:50 Iran's uranium stockpile grows before deadline for nuclear deal
Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium gas has grown by 8 percent to nearly 8.4 tonnes in about two months, U.N. atomic inspectors say, an amount world powers probably will want to see cut under any nuclear deal with Tehran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a confidential report on Iran to IAEA member states on Friday, less than three weeks before a Nov. 24 deadline for Iran and six world powers to resolve their stand-off over Tehran's atomic activities.
18:28 Burdwan blast mastermind Sajid arrested
TV reports say that the Burdwan blast mastermind Sajid has arrested been arrested and is in the custody of the West Bengal police.
Sajid, a Bangladeshi national, is allegedly the trainer of the Indian module of the Jammat.
Two persons were killed in the accidental blast in a house at Khagragarh in Burdwan district on October 2 while hand grenades were being manufactured there, leading to the unearthing of an international terror racket.
18:25 PM to meet Suu Kyi in Myanmar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi among other leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asian summits in Myanmar next week in his first interaction with the pro-democracy icon.
Modi leaves for Myanmar on November 11 on the first leg of his three-nation ten-day visit that will also take him to Australia and Fiji.
18:24 4 Armymen, civilian trapped under avalanche near LoC
Four Army personnel and a civilian were today trapped under an avalanche near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, Army said.
"At about 8 am today, an army link patrol operating in areas south of Nasthachun pass were overrun by an avalanche triggered from the higher reaches of Shamsabari range (in Kupwara)," army said in a press release.
18:23 China pledges USD 40 bn for Silk Road plan
Chinese President Xi Jinping today committed USD 40 billion to give a push to the country's mega plan aimed at reviving the ancient Silk Road and "break the connectivity bottleneck" in Asia.
Xi pledged the sum at a summit attended by leaders of neighbouring countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh.
16:18 BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya to get berth in Union Cabinet
The new state of Telangana will now have representation at the Centre with the lone BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya being inducted into the Union Cabinet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly called up Dattatreya and informed him about his induction into the Cabinet during the cabinet expansion, slated for tomorrow.
Celebrations began at Dattatreya's residence in Hyderabad after the news broke out today.
It is, however, not clear whether he will be made a Cabinet Minister or a Minister of State.
The veteran leader, currently BJP's national vice-president, had earlier served as Minister of State in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet between 1999 and 2004. He held portfolios of urban development and railways.
He was elected to Lok Sabha from Secunderabad constituency in 1991, 1998 and 1999. After losing two successive elections from the same constituency in 2004 and 2009, Dattatreya was re-elected in this year's general election.
15:58 How does ISIS fund its reign of terror?
The Islamic State's staggering successes come at a cost. After all, it's not cheap to wage war and manage territorial conquests whose population is now roughly the size of Austria's.
So how can ISIS, cut off from the rest of the world by financial and trade sanctions, and under daily aerial and land bombardment by some of the richest countries in the world, afford to maintain a well-armed military and pay other bills?
Interviews with Iraqi, Kurdish, European, Syrian and American government officials, analysts and intelligence agents sketch a portrait of ISIS's robust, sprawling, and efficient financial operation.
The terrorist group relies on a relatively complex system to manage its far-reaching networks.
Its currencies of choice -- cash, crude oil and contraband -- allow it to operate outside of legitimate banking channels.
Turkey's southern corridor, Iraq's northwestern corridor and Syria's northeastern corridor are key weak spots, well away from the prying eyes of outside investigators.
Read more HERE
15:40 Naval vessel mishap: Search on for 4 missing sailors
Two days after an Indian naval vessel sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam, search is on to rescue the four missing sailors.
One sailor had died after a Torpedo Recovery Vessel sank off the Visakhapatnam coast on Thursday evening. 23 others were rescued from the sea.
The incident happened at around 8:00 pm during a naval exercise.
The Navy has already ordered a Board of Inquiry into the incident.
The vessel was on a routine mission to recover (dummy) torpedoes fired by fleet ships during a routine exercise, when it experienced flooding in one of its compartments, the Navy had said in a statement.
The incident happened within 10-15 kms off Vizag post, a Navy spokesperson separately said.
The Torpedo Recovery Vessel is an auxiliary vessel which is used to recover practice torpedoes fired by fleet ships and submarines.
The ship, which is 23 meters long and 6.5 meters at the beam, was built by Goa Shipyard in 1983 and has served the Indian Navy for the last 31 years.
15:39 17 militants killed in northwest Pakistan
17 militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Pakistan's restive northwest tribal region along Afghan border, officials said today.
The fighting took place in the Sepah Spin Qabar area of Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency last night.
The bullet ridden bodies of the militants were shifted to Levies Centre in Shah Kas for identification.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the militants were killed in a clash with security forces last night. About 50 to 60 terrorists stormed at security forces check-post in Spin Qamar area prompting effective response from the forces in which 17 attackers were killed.
The ISPR said the terrorists fled the site and dumped 17 bodies of their companions.
In a separate incident, Pakistani security forces killed a militant and recovered huge cache of weapons during a search operation in Chakdara area of Lower Dir district of Khyber Paktunknwa province bordering Bajaur agency.
Three soldiers were also injured in the gunbattle with the militants. The security forces launched a search operation following reports of the presence of militants in a mosque in the area.
Security forces recovered three suicide jackets, 10 hand grenades and huge cache of arms from the scene of action.
15:12 Parsekar replaces Parrikar as Goa CM
Goa Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has been chosen as the state's next chief minister.
BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy announced this after a legislature party meeting.
Parsekar was chosen unanimously, said Rudy, who along with BS Yeddyurappa was sent to Goa by the party's central leaders as observers.
Manohar Parrikar, who is expected to become the next defence minister of the country, earlier resigned as Goa chief minister.
He faxed his resignation letter to Governor Mridula Sinha at Raj Bhavan this afternoon, after meeting the Archbishop.
"The swearing-in of the new CM would be held at 4 pm," Parrikar said minutes before faxing his resignation.
With his resignation, entire state cabinet comprising 12 ministers, two of which were from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, was dissolved.
15:05 Kochi college suspends students behind 'Kiss of Love'
Ten students, who had launched an "Kiss of Love" initiative to protest against moral policing, have been suspended by a Kochi college.
The protest was organised by students of the Maharaja College against the attack on Downtown Hotel at Kozhikode and to express solidarity with the "Kiss of Love" initiative which was to be held on November 2 at the Marine Drive ground in Kochi.
Around 1pm on Friday, a small group of students gathered at the college and organised the protest despite college authorities warning them against such a move.
College Principal T V Francy said no prior permission had been taken for conducting such an event and the 10 students had been suspended for 10 days.
The "Kiss of Love" protest, which created a huge 'hype' due to media attention, could not be held as the organisers and sympathisers, numbering around 30, were taking into custody by police even before the protest began.
14:02 Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar takes over as ISI chief
Pakistan Army Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar has reportedly assumed the role of chief of Inter-Services Intelligence.
Dawn reported that a military official confirmed that Gen Akhtar had taken over as the next director general of ISI, succeeding retired Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam.
Akhtar, a close associate of Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, was named as director general of the ISI by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in September.
Akhtar's appointment as the ISI chief comes at a time when Pakistan is dealing with both internal and external challenges, including the arrival of Islamic State jihadists in the country.
13:27 Modi wishes Advani on his birthday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wished senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani on his birthday, saying his unparalleled intellect and insight make him one of the tallest personalities in public life.
"Wishing Advani ji a very happy birthday. May he be blessed with long life and good health," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
"His unparalleled intellect and insight make Advani ji one of the tallest personalities in public life. All of us have learnt a lot from him," he added.
Prime Modi further said that he would seek the BJP veteran's blessings after returning to New Delhi from Varanasi.
Through the years, Advani had served as the BJP president for the longest period since its inception in 1980. Capping a parliamentary career of nearly three decades, Advani was first the Home Minister and later the Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004).
Advani, who was born on November 8, 1927, is widely regarded as an individual of great intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for the idea of a strong and prosperous India
12:46 Manohar Parrikar resigns as Goa CM
Manohar Parrikar has faxed his resignation to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha who is not in the state. The Governor is expected to arrive in the state later in the afternoon.
Sources have said that Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar will be named as the new chief minister of Goa.
The issue of Goa's next CM was discussed at the BJP parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi.
Senior BJP leader JP Nadda said after the meeting that a formal announcement on Parrikar's successor will be made at 4:00 pm.
12:05 Rajnath Singh offers prayers at Jerusalem
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who on an official tour to Israel, offered prayers at the Western Wall in the holy Jewish city of Jerusalem.
This photograph was tweeted by Indians for Israel
11:28 Cabinet reshuffle: BJP parliamentary board meets
The Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board meeting to discuss induction of 10 new faces in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Cabinet, including Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, has just got over.
Parrikar is tipped to be appointed as the next Defence Minister and will tender resignation as the Goa CM today.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley currently has the additional charge of the defence portfolio.
Apart from Parrikar, the names of Jayant Sinha, son of former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, Anurag Thakur from Himachal Pradesh, Jat leader from Haryana Birender Singh, Bhumiar leader from Bihar Giriraj Singh or Bhola Singh, Col Sonaram Chaudhary and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, both of Rajasthan, and Hansraj Ahir from Maharashtra are also reportedly doing rounds.
11:22 Pawar to attend BCCI AGM after four years
In a significant move, Mumbai Cricket Association's president Sharad Pawar has decided to attend the Cricket Board's Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held in Chennai on November 20, after a gap of four years.
"Mr Pawar's name was proposed by the committee members at yesterday's managing committee meeting and he has accepted it. He will attend the Board's AGM after four years," said Mumbai Cricket Association's joint secretary Nitin Dalal here today. Pawar's decision to attend the AGM, deferred to November from its usual dates in September by the BCCI's all-powerful working committee to pave the way for president-in-exile Narayanaswami Srinivasan's return at the helm, could queer the pitch for the latter who was treasurer when the NCP supremo was president of BCCI from 2005-08.
Srinivasan, who has taken over as the first chairman of the International Cricket Council, has not functioned as BCCI chief following the setting up of the Justice Mudgal committee by the Supreme Court to investigate the betting and match fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, which has submitted its final report on the probe against him and a few others.
The Supreme Court will take cognisance of the report on November 10, which was submitted in a sealed cover.
A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur said on November 3 it will consider the report when the case is heard.
Pawar, a former president of ICC, is seen as a rallying force by opponents of Srinivasan mainly belonging to the West and Central Zones of BCCI.
10:57 Raina 'honoured' by Modi's Swachh Bharat nomination
Cricketer Suresh Raina on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating him for the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', and said that he would carry forward the task after the ODI series.
"Honoured to be nominated by @PMOIndia for #SwachhtaAbhiyaan. Will take up the endeavour as soon as I'm in UP after ODI series," Raina tweeted.
"Cleanliness is a reflection of our Civilization. It has started as a dream but we should all make it our own mission," he added.
Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day initiated the drive towards a clean Ganga, as he participated in 'shramdaan' to remove dirt on the banks of the River Ganga at Assi Ghat in Varanasi.
Besides Raina, the Prime Minister has nominated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, cricketer Mohammad Kaif, comedian Raju Srivastava, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, singer Kailash Kher, Manu Sharma, Padma Shri Devi Parsad Dwivedi and Swami Rambhadracharya
10:06 Battle royal between Anand and Carlsen starts today
The 'revenge match' between reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and challenger Viswanathan Anand kicks off on Saturday at the Sochi Winter Olympics Complex in Russia. The two grandmasters will play 12 games for a purse of euro 1 million and the title of world champion. In case the match is tied after 12 games, they will play tiebreakers at faster time controls.
In 2013, the pair met in Chennai in the previous world championship match. Anand was the reigning world champion but failed to defend his title, with the Norwegian grandmaster winning 3-0, with seven draws. Anand has qualified as the challenger by winning the Candidates Tournament to set up this rematch.
Anand revealed his team of seconds, consisting of Krishnan Sasikiran and Radoslaw Wojtaszek, who have both worked with him before, and a new man, Grzegorz Gajewski, a 30-year-old grandmaster from Poland. Carlsen continues to work with Peter Heine Nielsen (who used to be Anand's second) and Jon-Ludvig Hammer. There are unconfirmed rumours that several other strong players are helping both camps.
Though Carlsen won the world title comprehensively at Chennai, their lifetime record is equal. Both have won six games, with 28 draws. They have played five games in 2014 and traded one win each with three draws.
Carlsen must be reckoned the favourite since he has, the higher rating. The 23-year-old is also much younger than his 45-year-old rival, and this could make a difference in physical stamina.
10:04 Modi nominates UP CM, 8 others for 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday nominated nine people for taking forward the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Bhojpuri playback singer-actor and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Cricket players Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina.
"I have started the cleanliness drive here and the social organisations have assured me that this entire 'ghat' will be cleaned as soon as possible," said Modi.
The list also included comedian Raju Srivastava, Kailash Kher, Manu Sharma, Padma Shri Devi Parsad Dwivedi and Swami Rambhadracharya.
"After several years this shall be a gift through the medium of cleanliness here," he added.
He also appealed the freshly nominated personalities to further nominate nine individuals each, for the clean-up drive.
10:01 Manohar Parrikar to resign as Goa CM today
Manohar Parrikar, tipped to be the country's next Defence Minister, will resign as the chief minister of Goa on Saturday.
While it is still not official that he will take charge of the crucial Defence Ministry, Parrikar himself has confirmed that he is moving to Delhi after being asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Parrikar Friday said that although he felt sad to leave Goa, he had decided to accept the offer because it was a matter of "national interest" and because "no one says no to a prime minister".
Parrikar will be sworn in on Sunday when the Union Cabinet is expanded on Sunday afternoon.
Also today, the BJP will announce Parrikar's successor after a meeting of party MLAs.
The party's national observers Rajeev Pratap Rudy and BS Yeddyurappa will be present at the meeting in Goa to tide over the process of transition from Parrikar to the new chief minister.
08:55 Haley to visit India to lure jobs & promote tourism
Fresh from her emphatic re-election, South Carolina's governor Nikki Haley is to visit India next week to bring investment and promote her state as a tourist destination in her parents' native country.
During the 10-day trip beginning November 11, Haley and her delegation are scheduled to have as many as 90 meetings in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Mumbai and Chennai.
"Next week, the State of South Carolina is launching our first trade and investment mission to India," Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said yesterday.
The delegation includes Commerce personnel, the state's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, private-sector economic development allies and several South Carolina-based companies looking to make export connections, he said.
"The goal of the trip is to put South Carolina on the map with Indian businesses.
"We will be introducing the advantages of doing business in South Carolina to Indian companies in order to enhance our trade ties and to encourage domestic investment by Indian companies," Hitt said.
During the visit, Haley would also be positioning South Carolina as a top tourism destination.
08:54 Obama to nominate Loretta Lynch as new Attorney General
US President Barack Obama has decided to nominate Loretta Lynch as his new Attorney General, White House press secretary has said adding that a formal announcement would be made today.
If confirmed by the Senate, Lynch would succeed Eric Holder, whose tenure has been marked by historic gains in the areas of criminal justice reform and civil rights enforcement, Josh Earnest said yesterday.
"Ms Lynch is a strong, independent prosecutor who has twice led one of the most important US Attorney's Offices in the country," Earnest said.
She is the current United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Her name was considered among several top contenders including, Indian-American Preet Bharara, the high profile US Attorney in New York.
03:49 Dallas reaches end of Ebola monitoring period
Dallas calmly marked the end of its Ebola crisis today when the last of the 177 people who were being monitored for symptoms of the deadly virus were to be cleared at midnight.
Thirty-eight days after Thomas Eric Duncan was diagnosed with Ebola in a local hospital, there were no public celebrations scheduled. Instead, local officials expressed relief and resolve that they were prepared if anything similar with its resulting panic, fear and constant media attention ever happened again.
03:48 Obama authorises up to 1,500 more military personnel to deploy to Iraq
President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional troops to Iraq and is asking Congress for $5.6 billion, as the U.S. looks to ramp up the fight against Islamic State militants.
The military personnel will serve "in a noncombat role to train, advise and assist Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish forces,' White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
01:33 Kiev says tanks roll in from Russia, five soldiers die
Ukraine today said that dozens of tanks and truckloads of soldiers had crossed from Russia into Kremlin-backed rebel territory, as five servicemen were killed in the latest fighting to tear apart a nominal ceasefire.
The allegations that Moscow is stepping up reinforcements for the insurgents stoked fears that both sides could slide into a return to all-out fighting.
01:32 Ebola death toll hits 4,960: WHO
The World Health Organisation said today that 13,268 people had been infected with Ebola across eight countries, and 4,960 of them had died. On Wednesday, it had reported 13,042 cases and 4,818 deaths.
The UN health agency has acknowledged though that the number of deaths are likely far higher, since the fatality rate in the current outbreak is known to be around 70 per cent.
01:32 Republican concedes US Senate race
The Republican candidate for the Senate in Virginia conceded defeat today, ending a longshot bid that almost turned into a shocking upset. The race was one of three still undecided after Tuesday's vote in which Republicans seized control of the Senate and expanded their majority in the House of Representatives in what was widely seen as a backlash against President Barack Obama.
01:31 Twitter to set up shop in Hong Kong
Twitter plans to set up shop in Hong Kong early next year, focusing on ad sales instead of the one-to-many messaging service banned in China. The San Francisco-based service that has served as a platform for dissent and free speech wants to tap into booming growth in Greater China by selling ads to businesses such as exporters. US Internet titans Google and Facebook already have similar strategies in place.
00:19 Russia warns of 'WTO death' if no trade solution at G20
Russia today warned of the imminent "death" of the World Trade Organisation if developed and developing nations don't come to an agreement at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Australia. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate at the G20 summit in Brisbane on November 15-16.
His representative at the summit -- known as the G20 sherpa -- said the gathering will address a number of top issues like trade, stressing that the interests of developing nations would have to be taken into account.
00:17 French jihadist describes role in Lebanon attack plan
A French jihadist has described in court documents his path from the suburbs of Paris to Lebanon's capital Beirut where he was planning an attack on Shiite Muslims.
Fayez Yusef Bushran disclosed his journey in court documents seen by AFP today. He is also charged with membership of the Islamic State group (IS) and preparing a suicide bomb attack.
00:17 Putin seizes Ukraine, but loses Ukrainians
Portraits of President Vladimir Putin in the Ukrainian capital? Plenty -- but they're printed on toilet paper. The Kremlin leader's stern features stare from novelty rolls sold for USD 1.5 dollars in Kiev gift shops.
He appears on T-shirts emblazoned with an obscene slogan. He's on doormats. "He's popular," jokes Svitlana Khotumsova, 25, who runs a small shop under Maidan Square, epicentre of Ukraine's pro-Western street revolts.
00:16 Kim Jong-un even more dangerous than father, former bodyguard warns
Kim Jong-un will prove an even more brutal leader of North Korea than his father, Kim Jong-il, the late dictator's bodyguard has warned.
Lee Young-guk, who defected to South Korea, said that Kim Jong-un, who became Supreme Leader in December 2011, has created "fake' loyalty that is "based on fear'."Kim Jong-un ended up killing his uncle, who even Kim Jong-il could not kill,' he said.
00:14 Ukraine accuses Russia of sending in tanks to support rebels
Ukraine's military has accused Russia of sending a column of 32 tanks and truckloads of troops into the country's east to support pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces.
Yesterday's cross-border incursion, if confirmed, is a significant escalation of a conflict that has killed more than 4,000 people since the separatists rose up in mid-April and would call into question Russia's commitment to a two-month-old ceasefire deal.
00:12 Top headlines in that last 24 hours
First expansion of Modi Cabinet on Sunday
Race for Goa CM hots up: Deputy CM threatens to quit if not given post
How would you react if your daughter was raped? BJP leader sparks controversy
Budgam firing: Army admits mistake, wishes it had not happened
It's a miracle am still alive, says Budgam firing survivor
SpiceJet plane hits buffalo during take-off
EC pulls up MHA over 1984 anti-Sikh riot compensation issue
I did not adopt Jayapur, they adopted me, says Modi in Varanasi
Goa CM Parrikar, headed to Centre, to resign tomorrow
Bharat Ratna C N R Rao: 'I expect great things for science under Modi'
Race for Goa CM hots up: Deputy CM threatens to quit if not given post
How would you react if your daughter was raped? BJP leader sparks controversy
Budgam firing: Army admits mistake, wishes it had not happened
It's a miracle am still alive, says Budgam firing survivor
SpiceJet plane hits buffalo during take-off
EC pulls up MHA over 1984 anti-Sikh riot compensation issue
I did not adopt Jayapur, they adopted me, says Modi in Varanasi
Goa CM Parrikar, headed to Centre, to resign tomorrow
Bharat Ratna C N R Rao: 'I expect great things for science under Modi'
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