LIVE
Sun, 09 November 2014
Has Ebola spread to Ireland too?
Timeline Refresh
22:25 Patient placed in isolation, to be tested for Ebola in Ireland
A patient at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast is being tested for Ebola. The Public Health Agency confirmed that the person has been placed in isolation. It said the person recently travelled in an Ebola affected area and was being assessed and tested in accordance with a national contingency plan. Having already tested positive for malaria, a blood sample will confirm if they also have contracted Ebola.
22:20 Protesters set fire to Mexican presidential palace
A group of protesters set fire to the wooden door of Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto's ceremonial palace in Mexico City's historic city centre denouncing the apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers. The group, carrying torches, broke away from what had been a mostly peaceful protest demanding justice for the students, who were abducted six weeks ago and apparently murdered and incinerated by corrupt police in league with drug gang members.
21:33 Viswanathan Anand loses game 2 against Magnus Carlsen
Indian ace Viswanathan Anand lost to Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the second game of the World Chess Championship in Sochi. Carlsen now has 1.5 points to Anand's 0.5. Playing with black pieces this time, Anand had some problems against Carlsen. The first game on Saturday had earlier been drawn in 48 moves when Carlsen could not avoid perpetual checks.
21:13 Two brides tie the knot in Russia's first official same-sex marriage
Two brides in Russia officially married without violating the country's ban on same-sex marriages after exploiting a loophole in the law. Irina Shumilova and Alyona Fursova arrived at a registry office in St Petersburg holding bouquets of flowers and wearing traditional white wedding dresses to tie the knot in the presence of family and friends. The couple are likely to escape punishment as one of the brides is not legally a woman as she describes herself as transsexual rather than transgender. "Yes, in my passport it says 'male'," said Irina.
20:44 Will offer all help possible, says Navy chief RK Dhowan
Following Thursday's tragedy when a Naval ship sank off the coast Vishakhapatnam, killing one sailor, Naval chief RK Dhowan met the family of James Jacob, the sailor who died. Speaking to the media later, he said that the Navy would provide any and all assistance to Jacob's family. He also said that the reason of the accident will be thoroughly inquired.
20:17 AAP to release first list of candidates this week
Aiming to recapture power, the Aam Aadmi Party has finalised a list of 30 candidates, which includes former ministers as well as party Chief Arvind Kejriwal, for Delhi assembly polls and it will be released this week. Sources said party has decided not to give tickets to six former legislators including former Speaker of the assembly Maninder Singh Dhir, Raju Dhingan, Dharmendra Singh Kohli, Harish Khanna and Rajesh Garg. All former ministers including Manish Sisodia, Rakhi Birla, Somnath Bharti, Girish Soni, Sourav Bhardwaj and Satyendra Kumar Jain are likely to figure in the first list.
19:41 Uddhav says will categorically not support those who want to split Maharashtra
Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that they wanted a stable government in Maharashtra. "However it doesn't mean that we will support a government, which takes support of people who speak of saffron terrorism (NCP). Uddhav slamming the BJP said, "Atalji ki 13 day ki sarkar Sharad Pawar ne girai thi, aur ab yeh NCP ka hi saath lena chahte hain."
He added, "If in the next 2-3 days we don't get an answer from the BJP then we will sit in the Opposition."
19:28 Humiliated Sena issues fresh salvo
Hour after Uddhav Thackeray and other Shiv Sena leaders met at Sena Bhavan, a decision has been taken that the Sena will sit in the opposition in Maharashtra if the BJP sought NCP's support. Earlier in the day, Sena said they were humiliated after the BJP snubbed Anil Desai and swore in Suresh Prabhu. According to sources, Eknath Khadse will be the Leader of the Opposition.
18:55 Surviving Virgin Galactic pilot speaks of his ordeal
Peter Siebold, 43, suffered serious injuries when he was blasted from the wreckage of the disintegrating rocket ship at 50,000 feet above earth. The married father-of-two managed to parachute to safety after the crash on October 31, which killed his friend and co-pilot Mike Alsbury. Speaking about the horrifying ordeal he explained how he regained consciousness half way though his fall. "I must have lost consciousness at first. I can't remember anything about what happened but I must have come to during the fall." He added, "I remember waving to the chase plane and giving them the thumbs-up to tell them I was OK. I know it's a miracle I survived," he added.
18:32 New Modi minister Suresh Prabhu owned flat in Adarsh society
Suresh Prabhu, who was newly-inducted in the Modi Cabinet today, was one of the several politicians' names who cropped up in the Adarsh Housing scam. He had been allotted a 1,076-square foot house. However, the commission probing the scam observed that he was not an A-Group government servant as per the 5th Pay Commission and that he was not entitled for a flat having more than 650 sq ft.
18:18 All eyes on Sena Bhavan as crucial meet to begin
With the Sena and BJP ties on its last thread, all eyes have now turned to Sena Bhavan as the crucial meet of the party members is about to start. Earlier in the day, the Sena was miffed at the inclusion of Suresh Prabhu at the cost of Sena MP Anil Desai. Party members are going to meet Uddhav and decide if they want to continue being a part of the government at the Centre.
17:54 Parrikar hints at getting Defence portfolio
Former Goa chief minister and newly-inducted cabinet minister Manohar Parrikar almost gave a confirmation that he will be India's next defence minister. Asked if one can now assume that he is the new defence minister, Parrikar said, "Wait for another half a day. I will not speculate anything but I don't think there will be any change from your thinking. Let it come officially."
Parrikar added that he will be filing his nomination paper for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh tomorrow. "I can confirm that I am going Lucknow in the next 15 minutes," he said. According to sources, Parrikar will file his Rajya Sabha nomination tomorrow afternoon.
17:20 Modi's new Cabinet to meet tomorrow for the first time
The first meeting of the expanded cabinet is expected to take place tomorrow evening. The Cabinet meet is to be followed by a meeting of entire council of ministers.
17:19 Sena sees red over exclusion of Anil Desai in Cabinet
The exclusion on Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai from the Modi Cabinet expansion has not gone down well the party who called it an insult to the entire group. "Snub to Desai is an insult to the Shiv Sena," said a few angry members. Tensions are on the high and members of the Shiv Sena have said that they might break away from the BJP-led government at the Centre and sit in the opposition in the state too.
16:40 3-day Maharashtra assembly session to start tomorrow
A three-day special session of Maharashtra assembly will begin from tomorrow, during which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will seek a trust vote. State Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will administer oath to Jeeva Pandu Gavit as pro-tem Speaker of the Assembly in Raj Bhavan at 10 am tomorrow, an official said. Assembly proceedings will start at 11 am and the first two days will see the members of the 13th assembly take oath. On November 12, the Speaker will be elected after which Fadnavis will move a trust vote. The session will conclude with the Governor's address to legislators.
16:14 Prabhu to be next Railways minister?
Today, Suresh Prabhu was pleasantly surprised. For the last four days, rumours have been swirling that the newest BJP member might get the environment ministry. However, sources say that he is set to become the new rail minister. Prabhu is a well-known face in politics and known for his integrity. So much so, that Kejriwal had asked him to join the Aam Aadmi Party. Call it luck or destiny but if all goes well, he may soon be heading one of the world's biggest employment generating organisations called the Indian Railways.
15:47 Suresh Prabhu resigns from the Shiv Sena
Just moments after he took the oath of office and was sworn in as a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet, Suresh Prabhu has put in his papers at the Sena and has joined the BJP. Sources reported that the Sena was not happy about Prabhu's inclusion in the Cabinet and wanted someone else. However, Modi was keen on Prabhu's name. Earlier, the Sena had nominated Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai to be inducted into Modi's Cabinet.
15:04 Sena upset with Prabhu's inclusion in Cabinet, might ask Geete to resign
Minutes after 21 new ministers were sworn in to Modi's Cabinet, reports are swirling that the Shiv Sena is upset with the promotion given to Suresh Prabhu who took the oath of office. Sources said that Geete met with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and that he may be asked to resign from the Modi Cabinet.
14:44 21 new ministers take the oath of office
So, there you have it. The all new Modi sarkar features 21 new ministers with Parrikar, JP Nadda, Suresh Prabhu and Birender Singh getting Cabinet berths.
Here's a roundup of who got what:
Minister of State (Independent Charge): Bandaru Dattatreya, RP Rudy and Dr Mahesh Sharma.
Ministers of State: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Ram Kripal Yadav, Haribhai Chaudhary, Professor Sanwar Lal Jat, MK Kundariya, Giriraj Singh, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Ram Shankar Katheriya, YS Chaudhury, Jayant Sinha Rajyavardhan Rathore, Babul Supriyo, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Vijay Sampla
Image: RP Rudy and some of the other ministers who were sworn in.
14:18 New faces inducted into Modi's Cabinet
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (in pic) is sworn in as Minister of State.
Vijay Sampla, a MP from Hoshiarpur, also takes the oath of office.
14:14 Singer Babul Supriyo reaches a high note
Singer Babul Supriyo takes the oath of office. He is a MP from Asansol. He, too, took the oath of office, in English.
14:12 Olympian shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore sworn in
Jaipur Rural MP Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore sworn in as Minister of State. He is the first Olympic medallist to become a minister in India. He will also be the second army man in Modi's Cabinet, the first being General VK Singh.
Yashwant Sinha's son Hazaribagh MP Jayant Sinha also took the oath as Minister of State.
14:08 TDP get another seat in Modi's Cabinet
An industrialist, YS Chowdary, from the TDP, takes the oath of office. A Rajya Sabha member and a close of aide of Chandrabau Naidu he had declared assets of Rs 189 crore in 2010. He is also the first minister to have taken the oath in English.
14:05 Man who blew the lid on coal scam takes the oath of office
Hansraj Ahir, the Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament, who had blown the whistle on the coal scam way back in 2005, is sworn in as a minister of state. He is a backward class leader from Maharashtra.
Read his exclusive interview with Rediff.com HERE.
14:02 Controversy's child Giriraj Singh is sworn-in
Giriraj Singh takes the oath of office. The leader is no stranger to controversy and hit the limelight when he had said that during the elections that 'all those who oppose Modi should go to Pakistan'. Singh, an upper caste Bhumihar leader from Bihar, was one of the first to project Modi as the next prime minister of India.
13:59
Another newcomer in Modi's Cabinet: Mohan Kundariya takes the oath of office. Kundariya was a minister in Modi's Cabinet in Gujarat.
13:57 Ministers take the oath of office
Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary takes the oath of office. Along with him, Sanwar Lal Jat also takes the oath of office. He is a Jat leader and a first time MP from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
13:53 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins.... .
Ram Kirpal Yadav, a former RJD leader, takes the oath of office. He defeated Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter from the Pataliputra seat in the Lok Sabha elections.
13:51 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins...
Noida MP Dr Mahesh Sharma takes oath as Minister of State with independent charge.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, BJP vice-president, is sworn in as Minister of State with independent charge.
13:49 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins...
Senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy joins the Modi sarkar as he becomes the next minister to be sworn in at the Durbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rudy is an MP from Saran and was minister in the Vajpayee government.
13:45 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins...
Bandaru Dattatreya from the Telangana unit of the BJP takes the oath of office. He is a four-time MP from Secunderabad.
Chaudhary Birender Singh also takes oath as Cabinet minister
13:43 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins...
Former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar is the first minister to take the oath of office. The 58-year-old leader resigned from the post of Goa CM on Saturday.
13:42 Modi's Cabinet expansion begins...
Senior BJP leader JP Nadda, a senior Rajya Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh is sworn in Modi's reshuffle exercise.
13:39
Shiv Sena's Suresh Prabhu follows Manohar Parrikar and is the next to take the oath of office. He is the second leader to be sworn in as Cabinet minister
13:31 Ministers gather for Modi's Cabinet expansion
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet expansion just a few minutes from now, ministers from the Modi government and other functionaries are gathering in the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan. For those who want to know, Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu is present at the function.
12:41
Modi's Cabinet expansion: Jayant Sinha reveals that he will join as Minister of State.
12:26
More on the Cabinet expansion: Senior BJP leader JP Nadda is to be inducted as a Cabinet minister. JP Nadda is a Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh and has served as state minister.
12:18 Manohar Parrikar to be given Home portfolio: Reports
Even as the Cabinet reshuffle is just an hour from now, speculation is rife that the Defence portfolio will be given to Rajnath Singh and that Manohar Parrikar will be handed the Home portfolio. Since PM Modi took office in May, Arun Jaitley has been doubling up as Defence and Finance Minister. However, Jaitley has maintained that the Defence charge was only temporary.
Whoever does become the new Defence minister, it is clear that he will have his hands full with the issues at the borders with neighbours -- Pakistan and China.
11:40
And more on the Cabinet expansion: According to Shiv Sena party sources, Anil Desai will be a part of Union Council of Ministers. Before this, Anant Geete was the only Shiv Sena MP in the Modi Cabinet.
11:38 Feeling sad and proud at the same time: Manohar Parrikar's brother
After resigning from the post of Goa chief minister, Avdhut Parrikar, Manohar Parrikar's brother, spoke to the media about the move. Speaking to the media Avdhut, said, "I'm having mixed feelings; on the one hand I feel proud but I also feel sad that he's going away." The emotional brother said that his brother was doing a good job for the people of Goa and that the state would miss him but that the nation came before all else.
11:20 Come have breakfast with me and then take oath, said PM to Rajyavardhan Rathore
Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi expands his Cabinet, Olympian shooter-turned-politician Rajyavardhan Rathore said that the PM had invited him for breakfast and asked him to join his team. "The PM said I'd like you to come and have breakfast with me and then I would like you to take oath," said Rathore.
11:14 Modi has tea with leaders before ceremony
Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his Cabinet by 22 ministers -- 4 of Cabinet rank and 18 as Ministers of State -- the PM is having tea with the ministers at his residence in New Delhi. This is the first expansion since Modi took oath on May 16 with his small team. All eyes are on the BJP-Sena relationship, as earlier there were reports that the Sena was skipping the swearing-in and the tea session. However, later, it was reported that Sena's Suresh Prabhu was at the tea session and will most likely be sworn in today.
00:24
Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller have been allowed to leave North Korea "and are on their way home," the U.S. government announced Saturday, leaving no more Americans detained in the reclusive East Asian nation.
The pair were released after a rare, last-second trip by a top American official -- U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper -- to Pyongyang as an envoy of President Barack Obama, a senior State Department official told CNN.
00:20 Modi congratulates Laxmikant Parsekar on becoming Goa CM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight congratulated Laxmikant Parsekar on his becoming the chief minister of Goa and expressed confidence that he will take the state to newer heights of progress. "Congratulations to Laxmikant Parsekarji on taking oath as Goa CM," Modi said.
00:20 Suspected Boko Haram attack in Cameroon leaves soldier, extremists dead
Suspected members of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram attacked a border town in Cameroon today, leading to six hours of fighting that killed a soldier and several insurgents, authorities said.
The attack occurred in Kerawa, near areas of Nigeria recently taken over by Boko Haram. The group's five-year insurgency in Nigeria has left thousands dead, and the Islamists have occasionally carried out attacks over the border.
00:20 Boko Haram said to seize another town in northern Nigeria
Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has seized control of a Nigerian town near the Niger border, leading soldiers to flee and adding to its expanding reach in the region, an official said Saturday.
The insurgents were said to have taken control of Malam Fatori in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state after fighting on Wednesday and Thursday, a senior official in the Niger town of Diffa near Nigeria told AFP on condition of anonymity.
00:19 MH17 victims' remains flown to Netherlands
Recently discovered remains of some of those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 were flown back to the Netherlands today, nearly four months after the passenger jet plunged out of the sky over eastern Ukraine.
The remains, in five coffins, arrived on board a military transport plane and were carried to waiting hearses in a solemn ceremony at a military air base in the southern city of Eindhoven.
00:18 Guantanamo closure by 2016 'unrealistic': commander
The commander of the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay believes there is little chance of the controversial facility being closed in the next two years, leaving Barack Obama struggling to achieve his goal of shuttering the jail before he leaves office.
Camp commander colonel David Heath told reporters he thought it was "unrealistic" to expect the prison to close during his two-year posting which ends in mid-2016.
00:18 Obama: 'Wonderful day' for 2 freed Americans
The US today announced the release of the last two Americans in North Korean custody after a secret trip to the reclusive communist country by President Barack Obama's national intelligence director.
"It's a wonderful day for them and their families," Obama said at the White House following his announcement of his pick for attorney general. "Obviously we are very grateful for their safe return."
00:17 Top headlines in that last 24 hours
IB probe ordered into reports of security lapse during PM's Varanasi visit
Burdwan blast mastermind arrested; son of retired B'desh army officer
Cabinet rejig: 20 new ministers likely to be sworn-in on Sunday
Army jawan, woman killed as Pakistan violates ceasefire
Mob torches CRPF vehicle in Srinagar
Parsekar replaces Parrikar as Goa chief minister
Burdwan blast mastermind arrested; son of retired B'desh army officer
Cabinet rejig: 20 new ministers likely to be sworn-in on Sunday
Army jawan, woman killed as Pakistan violates ceasefire
Mob torches CRPF vehicle in Srinagar
Parsekar replaces Parrikar as Goa chief minister
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances