LIVE
Mon, 20 April 2015
Six Somali-Americans detained trying to join Islamic State

Timeline  Refresh

image
23:16   Fox releases 'Fantastic Four' promo after YouTube user leaks trailer
After the Batman v. Superman trailer that was supposed to air in IMAX cinemas leaked last week, a new trailer for a hot upcoming superhero blockbuster hit YouTube during the weekend the leaked trailer for the new Fantastic Four movie.

The almost three-minute-long trailer shows much more action than the first teaser trailer, revealing more details about the story in this new Fantastic Four movie. We also get to see more of the four fantastics including Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Invisible Woman and the Thing.

Watch the full trailer HERE.
image
22:44   Six Somali-Americans detained trying to join Islamic State
US authorities today announced the arrest of six Somali-American men who planned to travel to Syria to fight with the Islamic State jihadist group.

"They are all from Minnesota and are all part of the same conspiracy," US Attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger told a press conference, adding that several of the men had been repeatedly seeking to travel to Syria over the past year, with the help of an acquaintance who had made it to Syria and was actively recruiting in Minnesota.

Four of the men were arrested today in Minneapolis, while two were arrested in San Diego, where they had intended to acquire forged documents and then cross into Mexico to begin their journey to Syria, according to the US Department of Justice.
image
22:29   Washington Post reporter faces spy trial in Iran
The detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian faces trial for espionage and three other charges including "collaboration with hostile governments", his lawyer said on Monday.

Rezaian, the newspaper's Teheran correspondent, has been in jail for nine months but no date has yet been set for court, Leila Ahsan said, revealing the case against her client for the first time and saying it contained "no justifiable proof".

In a telephone call after meeting Rezaian, she said Rezaian was also accused of gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Read full story HERE,
image
21:54   NDFB-S miliant killed in encounter in Assam
K Anurag in Guwahati reports: A 'section commander' of the NDFB (Songbijit) was killed in an encounter with a joint police and an Assam Rifle team in Sonitpur district of Assam along the Arunachal Pradesh border, a police officer said today.

The hardcore militant identified as Elion Daimary alias D Engarlang was killed at Chariduar last night and one pistol, one magazine, four rounds of live ammunition, one motorbike, two mobile sets along with SIM card were recovered from the slain militant, said Sonitpur district Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar today.

The militant, who hails from Mazbat Bogoribari village in Udalguri district, was involved in various subversive activities, besides attacking several small tea growers at Rangapara in the district, Parasar said.

Meanwhile, in a humanitarian act, the 12 Assam Rifles was extending a helping hand to the family of NDFB(S) militant 'sergeant major' Raton Narzary who was killed in an encounter on March 31 at Lakhipur area, Assam Rifle sources said.

An amount of Rs 30,000 was given to Raton's wife and their two children -- a one year old daughter and 3-year-old son -- were adopted with both of them receiving Rs 2500 per month till they attain 18 years of age, the sources said, adding, his wife  was offered a job at the Assam Rifles School at Lokora. 
image
21:50   Will give Hafiz Saeed a befitting reply: India
With Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed reportedly terming India as "enemy number one", the government today said India was a responsible power and would give befitting reply to any threat to it. 

"These kind of elements keep threatening India. India is not a ordinary country. We are a responsible country, a responsible power. We will give befitting reply and in a responsible manner," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi

He said the country was safe and secure and it will not give knee jerk reaction to such statement by anyone.

"Security agencies are alert and they act on every input," he said. 

The minister also asked the Pakistan government to act against Saeed, the mastermind of the Mumbai terror act. 

According to media reports, Saeed, who is also chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, made an anti-India call at a rally in Peshawar in Pakistan.

He called India "the number one enemy", the media reports said.
image
21:44   Pak vessel with 8 'smugglers' intercepted off Porbandar coast
A Pakistani vessel with 8 suspected smugglers on board was understood to have been intercepted off the coast of Porbandar today.

Defence sources said the operation was carried out by a joint team of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. 

They said that the ship is suspected to have been involved in smuggling.
image
20:45   What is wrong in Marathi films getting primacy, asks CM Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today defended his government's decision to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen a Marathi film during prime-time slot and dared those opposing it to take a similar stand in other states.

"Tamil films get primacy in Tamil Nadu and Telugu film in Andhra Pradesh. In states like West Bengal, nobody dares to say anything against the local films. Then why this injustice to Marathi films? Why are people raising voice against the Marathi culture?" Fadnavis said, speaking to PTI.

Marathi films had excelled in all genres and the local producers had made some really good films in the past, he said.

"If the state government wants local language films to get primacy, what is the harm? To all those who are opposing the move, I want to ask can they show the same courage in some of the other states?

"These people know that Maharashtra is a democratic state. They know even if they shout against us we will not respond. They may keep voicing their opinion democratically but we are committed to give primacy to Marathi films and theatre," Fadnavis said.
image
20:41   US SC rejects Rajat Gupta's appeal against insider trading
In a setback to India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta, the US Supreme Court today rejected his appeal to overturn his conviction on insider trading charges and upheld his two-year prison term. 

The IIT and Harvard-educated 66-year-old former McKinsey head -- currently serving a two-year jail term on insider trading charges in a federal prison in Ayer, Massachusetts -- had appealed in the apex court against his 2012 conviction.

Gupta had filed a reply in federal court here last week in support of his motion to vacate his sentence, saying his friendship with jailed hedge fund founder Sri Lankan national Raj Rajaratnam did not prove he received personal gain by passing on classified information.

He was convicted by a jury of passing confidential boardroom information to Rajaratnam that ordered him to make $6 million in restitution to Goldman and pay a $5 million fine.

Gupta -- the highest-ranking corporate official to be convicted in the US government's multi-year probe of insider trading in the hedge fund industry -- is scheduled to be released from prison in March, 2016.
image
20:09   Momma's proud! Sonia happy with Rahul's comeback speech
Congress president Sonia Gandhi said she was proud of son Rahul's speech in Lok Sabha. When asked about his address, she said, "'Was confident Rahul would speak well."

When asked about his elevation as party president, Sonia said, "The only answer will come from Rahul."
image
19:44   Separatists leaders share stage at rally on Budgam killing
Top separatists leaders today shared stage after seven years at a rally held in Budgam district to mourn the death of a teenage boy killed in police firing.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, head of the rival moderate faction Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik were among those who came together at the rally held at Narbal, where youth Suhail Ahmad Sofi was killed in police firing on Saturday.

This is the first time since 2008 Amarnath land row agitation in Kashmir that the top separatist leaders were seen together at a public event. 

Addressing the gathering, the Mirwaiz said, "The mission of martyrs would be taken to its destination with complete unity of purpose and commitment." 

Malik said, "Black laws like AFSPA and the licence to kill freely were a deep conspiracy hatched to curb the ongoing movement in Kashmir."
image
19:05   Why is this photograph going viral?
This TV grab of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi making an intervention in the Lok Sabha against the National Democratic Alliance government's land bill has been going viral online. 

And the reason for it? 
Gandhi's immediate circle. 
To his right, at the back, is Ashok Chavan. 
To his immediate right is Dipender Hooda. 
A little to the front, on the right, is Jyotiraditya Scindia. 
And to his left, at the back, is Gaurav Gogoi.   

What unites these five individuals, you wonder? The fact that all of them come from powerful political dynasties. 

Naturally, there is more than a chuckle over this on social media.  
image
18:45   Xi's visit to Pakistan a watershed moment: Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan was a a watershed in the history of Pakistan-China relations. "Together with President Xi we have taken momentous decisions that will raise Pakistan-China relations to new heights and have deep impacts for our common economic future, and peace and stability in the region."

A historic ceremony was organised at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday, where Pakistan and China signed 51 Memorandums of Understanding relating to diverse aspects of bilateral relations, including the Pakistan China Economic Corridor. Eight projects were also inaugurated during the ceremony.
image
18:39   Why Kate Middleton's baby might not be a Londoner
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child could be the first Royal to be born outside London for 85 years. Although St Mary's Hospital in west London is the first choice of venue for the delivery, two other hospitals have been put on standby in case the Duchess leaves the capital.

Read more HERE
image
18:13   MPs, VIPs to continue enjoying privileges at airports
MPs and other VIPs will continue to enjoy facilities like being served tea, coffee and water free of charge at airports besides free access to the terminal building, with the government informing the Lok Sabha there was no move to scrap these privileges. They will also have reserved lounge facilities at international and domestic terminals, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said in a written reply to a question by P Nagarajan.
image
17:58   Speech was good, but we didn't get answers: Rahul
After making a passionate speech in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi rated his own speech and gave himself a 'good' for his address. 
The Congress vice president said, "The speech was good but we didn't get any answers. First, Naidu tried to answer, then even the agricultural minister tried. But, the truth is that the government can't provide any answers," he said. 
image
17:50   What brought the Sensex down
Here are five things to know about the Sensex's crash on Monday, from ndtv.com.
image
17:42   Sonia misses Rahul's speech in Lok Sabha
Is all not well within the Congress? While party vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed the Lok Sabha and attacked the Narendra Modi-led government on the land bill, Sonia Gandhi, party president was missing. It has been reported that of the 44 MPs, only 16 Congress MPs attended the Lok Sabha session. 

Well, one wonders what made Sonia miss her son's speech. 


image
17:22   Maharashtra justifies beef ban, says state still agri-dependent
Justifying its controversial ban on slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks and consumption of their meat, Maharashtra government told the Bombay high court there is a need to protect and preserve these animals as the state's economy is still predominantly agricultural. The government, in an affidavit, said the ban introduced under Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, which has received presidential assent, was not violative of the fundamental rights of citizens to have food of their own choice.

image
16:52   India number one enemy: Hafiz Saeed spews venom again at Pak rally
The brains behind the 26/11 terror attacks Hafiz Saeed was at it again when he called India 'number one enemy' while he was addressing a rally in Pakistan. The rally was attended by MPs of Nawaz Sharif's ruling PML(N), Imran Kan's PTI and Jamat-e-Islami. It was called in support of Saudi Arabia's war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
image
16:43  
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh is down with fever and dehydration, and doctors attending on him have suggested complete rest. However, he did attend Rahul's farmers' rally in New Delhi on Sunday. 

In Parliament's Central Hall today, Jairam Ramesh could be seen walking around with a bottle of saline water.
image
16:39   You hurt the farmer now, he will hurt you later, warns Rahul
'You are hurting the farmer, the labourer, and he will hurt you when the time comes,' says Rahul. 'The farmer, labourers are the true power of the nation.   

'With this I would like to conclude my intervention,' saying this, Rahul winds up his around 20-minute speech in the Lok Sabha.
image
16:36   Isn't he your prime minister, Rahul taunts BJP
'Your prime minister,' Rahul says, and when the treasury benches point out that he is the nation's PM, asks them with a sly smile, 'Why isn't he your prime minister, are you disowning him?'   

'Okay, he has won the election, but I have a question. 67 pc of people depend on agriculture. Your PM, the nation's PM, understand political calculations, so the question arises why is he making 70 pc of the people unhappy? I have been thinking, why is this so?'     

Because, 'the price of the land, of Indian farmers, is rising sharply. And your corporate friends want that land? So what are you doing?   

'On one side, you are weakening the farmer, and when he is unable to stand on his feet, you will hit him with your ordinance. This is why you are ignoring 70 pc of the people.'
image
16:32  
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu intervenes to say that everyone has the right to speak in the House with decorum, and no one should object to it, and manages to restore order.

'The suit-boot has been sold off, we won't say anything about it, are you happy?' Rahul now taunts the treasury benches.
image
16:30   Rahul speaks, criticises NDA's kisan policies, land bill
Rahul's next utterance: 'We know your government is of industrialists, it is of big people, we all know it, everyone knows it.' 

'Suit-boot ki sarkar hai yeh, we understand it,' he says, which leads the treasury benches to object vociferously, despite appeals by the deputy speaker Thambidurai to control the ruckus.
image
16:27  
Rahul continues: 'My small advice to the PM is why doesn't he go to the affected farmers and see their plight for themselves?' 

As the treasury benches continue their interruption, Rahul gets a voice of help from Sharad Yadav, president of Janata Dal-U, who backs the figures given by Rahul.
image
16:26   BJP speaks in various voices, says Rahul
Now Rahul switches to Hindi.    

'First all of all I want to make a small suggestion to the prime minister. The nation's biggest agricultural  experts say, 180,000 hectares in 14 states are facing a crisis, Rs 40,00 crores is the extent of the loss.    

'But the PM says the experts are wrong, only 106,000 are facing a crisis. Now the agricultural ministry says no, the PM is wrong, 80,000 hectares are affected.    

'This is BJP's style, say something here, say something there, say something else altogether.'
image
16:22   NDA is anti-farmer, Rahul tells LS
Rahul lists out various actions by the NDA to show them as anti-farmer. 'We paid better minimum support price to the farmer, what has the NDA done? MSP is where it was. Agricultural credit has not improved.'   

'What is the result of this? Agriculture grew at 4.1 pc in our UPA's time. During the first NDA regime it was 2.6 pc, now it as around one pc How can you talk of improving the plight of the farmer?'
image
16:19   Rahul speaks, criticises NDA's kisan policies, land bill
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi finally makes his speech in the Lok Sabha, to oppose the land bill.  

'The farmer is India's backbone,' he begins in English, despite interruptions and demands that he speak in Hindi. I will speak in Hindi, don't worry, he says, and continues.   

'Whatever we have constructed has been  achieved in this country, be it IITs, defence, all these structures, everything has been built on a foundation provided by the farmer,' he says.
image
16:11   Maha CM visits Nagpur jail
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today stressed on the need to revamp the entire jail administration in the state, after he paid a surprise visit to the Central jail in Nagpur, from where five criminals escaped last month.

"Just paid a surprise visit to Central Jail, Nagpur. A lot still needs to be done. Entire jail admin requires a revamp," he tweeted after this visit. 

The visit by the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, comes 20 days after five hardened criminals escaped from the high security jail and are still at large. 

image
15:57   3 Maoists surrender in Odisha
Three Maoists who were cash rewards on their heads, today surrendered in Odisha's Malkangiri district. The three ultras, including a woman, were allegedly involved in over 29 cases relating to murder, landmine blasts, attacks on the police and other offences, Malkangiri superintendent of police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said. 

The red rebels, identified as Irma Kabasi, Era Madkami and Radhika, carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh each on their head.
image
15:53   Kashmir Congress chief apprises Rahul of political situation
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gulam Ahmed Mir today met party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and briefed him about the political situation in the state. 

"Mir had one-to-one meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi today. It was his first meeting with Gandhi after taking over as state congress chief", the chief spokesman of JKPCC, Ravinder Sharma, said.
image
15:45   Rahul's first address in Parliament from Opposition benches shortly
Rahul Gandhi to address Lok Sabha shortly on the Land Bill. This will be the Congress vice-president's first speech in Parliament after the May Lok Sabha elections. Which means it will be his first speech ever from the Opposition benches.

Rahul, one of the 44 Congress MPs in the lower house, was conspicuously absent in the first part of the crucial Budget session.
image
15:39   Prashant Bhushan: AAP's Ashish Khetan wrote stories in favour of 2G accused in Tehelka
Making serious charges against Aam Aadmi Party leaders, rebel leader Prashant Bhushan today alleged that AAP leader Ashish Khetan planted stories for Essar in Tehelka magazine where he used to work.

"Ashish Khetan planted stories for Essar in Tehelka. He wrote stories in favour of 2G accused. Essar paid Tehelka Rs 3 crore for its Thinkfest," he said. He also claimed that another party leader Pankaj Gupta took Rs 2 crore from shell companies.

Rebutting the charges, the party said that even the Ministry of Home Affairs had given a clean chit to the donations of AAP. "They are making fun of themselves when they are making such charges. Ashish Kehtan does not need the certificate of media on his journalism," AAP leader Ashutosh as the party strongly came out in defence of their leaders.
image
15:32   Critique Smriti Irani, but lose the sexism
About a week ago, I received a text on my phone from a Delhi-based BJP MP which made me extremely uncomfortable. Propriety demands that the MP not be named, but I think I can take the liberty of sharing his text which said "Our Bhabhiji looks to be in trouble, saviour will have a tough time saving her on return." Bhabhiji refers to Smriti Irani in the most sexist and derogatory way.

Read more
image
15:25   AAP 'victimising' those with different opinions: Bhushan
Dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prashant Bhushan on Monday alleged that anyone expressing views contrary to the actions of the party leadership was being hounded and victimised.

"Today everybody who expresses any view which is contrary to the actions of the party leadership and specifically the actions of the convenor, secretary, etc. is being hounded and victimised," he added.

"The way things have been done by those people who are in control of the party machinery today, is for all to see," he added.

Bhushan, who was last week served a show-cause notice by the AAP's national disciplinary committee, once again compared the situation in the party to a Stalinist purge.
image
15:05  
Why it isn't fat that clogs up your arteries and how the true villain may surprise you! Read
image
15:03   SRK tweets: Too young to go...
Shah Rukh Khan tweets: @iamsrk Too young to go... extremely unfortunate & sad. Condolences & prayers for Ankit Keshri & his family. May Allah bless his soul. R.I.P.

Tragedy struck Indian cricket on Monday when a 20-year-old player died as a result of a freakish on-field collision with a team mate during a club match in Kolkata. Keshri, a former captain for his state's under-19 team, battled for three days before passing away at a Kolkata hospital.
Read more
image
14:59  
Sonia Gandhi issues a whip to Congress MPs to remain present in Parliament at 4 pm.  All 44 of them.
image
14:49   Indian Embassy in Yemen shifted to Djibouti
In view of the worsening situation in Yemen's capital Sana'a, India has shifted its embassy to Djibouti, adjoining the war-torn country, after the "successful" conclusion of the process to evacuate its nationals, government informed the Lok Sabha today.

Under the operation 'Raahat', 6,688 people were evacuated from Yemen, including 4,741 Indians and 1,947 foreign nationals by air and searoutes, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in a suo motu statement.

It's unlikely any of the MPs in the Lok Sabha heard the minister speak since they were busy shouting down each other over the Land Bill
image
14:39   Navy launches stealth destroyer 'Visakhapatnam'
The Indian Navy today launched 'Visakhapatnam', the first of stealth destroyers under the P15-B project. The warship was launched by Minu Dhowan, wife of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan. Admiral Dhowan and senior officials of the Navy and Mazagaon Docks Limited were present on the occasion. The warship is 163 metres in length and has a displacement of 7,300 tonnes.
image
14:37   Buzz on Rahul's leave in Parliament
Not in the house, but it is during adjournments, that the fate of the nation and the way ahead in Parliament, is discussed.

A fly on the wall tells us that MPs were talking about Rahul Gandhi's 2-month-long leave abroad. They were discussing why Rahul's sabbatical was not covered by the media, unlike PM's three nation tour to France, Germany and Canada.

They said that almost nobody knows where Rahul really went and what he did during that time. They also spoke about how Rahul lacks credibility and how the rank and file in the Congress believes he can abandon the party and go MIA for 56 days.

The other topic of conversation was the AAP split and how two MPs in Arvind Kejriwal's coterie are not really with him.

And then there was Sitaram Yechuri being elected the leader of the CPI-M, the SP-JDU merger and how Janata Dal's KC Tyagi and Sharad Yadav will be sidelined, while Mulayam Singh Yadav's family will take over the Parliament briefings.

And finally, it was about how the chairman of the Rajya Sabha will not allow any bill to be introduced amid a din. MPs believe that the Land Bill will never be introduced in the upper house. The Rajya Sabha reconvenes on Thursday. Wait and watch.
image
14:15   Giriraj video on Sonia goes viral inside Parliament seconds after apology
As Lok Sabha is set to resume its budget session at 2 pm after two adjournments, what we can tell you is that the 1st day of the reconvened session of Parliament lacked spark. Lacklustre showing by both BJPa and Congress MPs, notwithstanding some amount of ruckus and a video that went viral.

The day began with Congress MPs barely bothering to acknowledge the Gandhis inside Parliament. Even Central Hall wore a deserted look.

Part of the reason, of course, is that the Rajya Sabha is not in session and much of the Lok Sabha MPs spent their time catching up with each other or the news, while digging into snacks served from the subsidised canteen.

Possibly the only Congress MP who attempted to speak to Rahul Gandhi was family loyalist Kamal Nath. Rahul, however, headed to friend and colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia's seat and began chatting with  him.

Once the session began, Congress MPs, in what is a pre-planned move, rushed to the well of the House to demand an apology from BJP MP Giriaj Singh for his comments against Sonia Gandhi.

On the way to the well of the house, they did their "pranams" to Sonia who was seated in the first row.

Mallikarjuna Kharge, who is leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, wanted to attract the attention of Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and began protesting loudly. Sonia was seen asking Kharge to lower his voice and calm down.

It was a planned strategy to embarrass the government and wring an apology on the floor of the House except for a crucial miscalculation. Giriraj Singh was not present in the house.

So, it was union minister M Venkaiah Naidu who called up Giraj and asked him to rush to the Lok Sabha and apologise.

That is what ensured the smooth passage of Question Hour.

Despite the apology, it was the BJP who had the last laugh (literally) in the house on the Giriraj issue.

When Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house for 20 minutes, within a few seconds the video clip of Giriraj Singh's comments on Sonia Gandhi, went viral inside the Lok Sabha.

Union Ministers gathered around each other and watched the video clip on their phones. BJP MP Ananth Kumar was seen holding an iPhone while Hukumdev Narain Yadav, a BJP MP from Madhubani, were cracking up watching the video.

Quite naturally, Sonia Gandhi and a few Congress leaders were upset at the behaviour. 

Lip service apology.
image
13:25   Hit-and-run case: Salman Khan will know judgment date tomorrow
It's judgment day for Salman Khan. The court will fix the date for pronouncement of judgement in the 13-year-old hit-and-run case in which Bollywood actor Salman Khan is an accused and refused to give the defence more time to conclude its final arguments.

The prosecution has already argued its case.

Altogether 27 witnesses were examined by the prosecution while the defence examined only one witness -- Khan's driver Ashok Singh.

The 49-year-old actor is accused of ramming his Toyota Land Cruiser into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others.

He has been charged with 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' which attracts ten years imprisonment.

The sessions court is conducting a fresh trial.

Earlier, the magistrate's court was trying Khan for the lesser charge of rash and negligent driving, which attracts two years jail term.

However, mid-way during the trial, the magistrate felt that the charge of 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' should be added, and he referred the case to the sessions court as the offence cannot be tried by a lower court.
image
13:20   Bare branches, redundant males
Distorted sex ratios at birth a generation ago are changing marriage and damaging societies in Asia's twin giants -- China and India. Read
image
13:17   When Sonia spoke to Sushma in Parl and why BJP is upset
The Budget session of Parliament was adjourned twice in under an hour. It remains adjourned till 2 pm.

Amid the ruckus, first with the Congress demanding Giriraj Singh's apology for his statement against Sonia Gandhi (he apologised) and second after the Land Bill was tabled, there was little work done in the lower house.

But what we can tell you about is the dynamics inside the house.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi crossed the floor of the house to meet foreign minister Sushma Swaraj to ask about her health. Swaraj was unable to to walk  properly as she had injured her leg.

Following in her footsteps, Rahul Gandhi did the same. Senior BJP leader LK Advani who was seated next to Sushma Swaraj greeted both the Gandhis.

What would ordinarily have passed off as mere courtesy among Parliamentarians created a flutter among the BJP benches.

We need to go back a bit and tell you why.

In March, when finance minister Arun Jaitley was presenting his Budget, he felt unwell while reading it out. Jaitley, 62, spoke for nearly 100 minutes last month. He started his speech standing, which is customary, but 22 minutes later, he sought Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's permission to sit down.

Then, last year, Jaitley had to take a break in his speech because of ill-health. This year, 20 minutes into his speech, the Speaker herself told Jaitley that he could speak while sitting.

He thanked her and said he would seek her permission when he required it. Two minutes later, he sought permission to sit.

As he sat down, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari vacated his seat to make way for him, shifting to the fourth row. The PM then directed a Lok Sabha staffer to shift his glass of water closer to the Finance Minister. He was also provided with coffee.

That, is the background.

So, what irked the treasury benches was that Sonia Gandhi did not extend the same courtesy to Jaitley.

May be it's time to let bygone be bygones.
image
13:15   Court refuses to hear Pachauri's plea to travel abroad
Meanwhile, a Delhi court refuses to hear the plea of TERI Director General R K Pachauri to travel abroad for the Global Water Summit. The Sessions court asks Pachauri to move his plea before the concerned Metropolitan Magistrate.

Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment allegations from a woman employee, moved court seeking permission to travel abroad to attend a global water summit in Greece from April 26 to 29.
image
12:42   Rahul 2.0: Cong VP to speak in Parliament on 'Agrarian Crises' today
Rahul Gandhi is back with a vengeance. The Congress vice-president will speak in Parliament on 'Agrarian Crises' at 4 pm today.

Congress top brass on Sunday launched an all-out attack on the government with vice-president Rahul Gandhi declaring that he would be in the vanguard against any move to hurt farmers' interests and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of bringing the land bill to pay back huge loans taken from corporates in the Lok Sabha polls.

While Congress president Sonia Gandhi accused the government of rubbing salt on the wounds of the farmers hit hard by unseasonal rains and hailstorm, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the new land bill was nothing but an attempt to weaken the 2013 Act that was aimed at empowering the farmers.

image
12:34   USD 46 billion deal for Pak, Nishan-e-Pakistan honour for China's Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Islamabad today on his first visit to Pakistan where he is expected to sign a deal for an economic corridor worth USD 46 billion and other agreements to bolster their all-weather strategic ties.

The Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan were accorded a red-carpet welcome when they landed at the Noor Khan airbase.

They were received by Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and members of the cabinet.

Tight security measures have been enforced in the capital while security personnel have been deployed on all vital city roads during Xi's visit.

After talks, the two countries are set to sign the agreement for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that will link China's underdeveloped far-western region to Pakistan's Gwadar deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea via PoK through a massive and complex network of roads, railways, business zones, energy schemes and pipelines. Pakistani Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the the total cost of the CPEC is USD 46 billion.

"It is not a single project but includes several projects related to energy generation, infrastructure development and business areas," he said.

The initial focus is on electricity and some of the early harvest projects would be ready in three years and provide about 10,400 MWs of electricity.

Xi will meet his Pakistani counterpart Hussain who will host a lunch in his honour and will also confer Pakistan's highest civilian award - 'Nishan-e-Pakistan' - on the Chinese president.
image
12:28   The evolution of the Land Acquisition Act
An 19th century legislation to promote commercial interests of the British was amended to include social impact assessments only in 2007. Read
image
12:22  
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm. 
image
12:20   SC approves of ban on 15-year-old vehicles in Delhi
As Sushma Swaraj ploughs on with her statement on Yemen in Parliament amid sustained and continuous ruckus, the Supreme Court today, has dismissed a plea against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning 15-year-old vehicles from plying on Delhi roads. The SC said, "They (NGT) is only repeating the orders of the constitutional courts: Let us assist and not discourage them (NGT)."
image
12:16   Let us assist NGT, not discourage them, says SC
A bench led by Chief Justice H L Dattu dismissed an appeal by a private party against the NGT's order which banned diesel vehicles that are more than 10 year old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.

"One tribunal is trying to do something which is good for people. Let us assist them and not discourage them," said the top court.

It also underscored that such a ban was also imposed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court earlier and the apex court had ratified this order while dismissing the appeal.
image
12:16  
The land acquisition ordinance, which the government could not get converted into a legislation in the first half of the budget session in Parliament due to stiff opposition in Rajya Sabha, was re-promulgated on April 3, a day before it was to lapse.
image
12:11   Kisan bachao, desh bachao slogans as NDA tables land bill in Parl
NDA tables Land ordinance bill in the Lok Sabha. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj's statement on Yemen in drowned amid the ruckus from the opposition benches. Kisan bachao, desh bachao, slogans in Parliament.
image
12:08   NDA tables land ordinance bill in the Lok Sabha, chaos in the house
And Milind Deora and Derek O'Brien aren't done with their quips yet.

Milind Deora tweets: @quizderek we don't need no education. Teachers, leave them kids alone @PandaJay.

Derek O'Brien ‏responds @quizderek  @milinddeora @PandaJay ... We don't need no thought control...
image
11:57  
Rahul Gandhi in Parliament today. The Congress vice-president went on a sabbatical when the budget session began on February 23 and returned last week on Thursday. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha meet for the Budget Session between 23rd February and 8th May, 2015. There was a recess between 21st March and 19th April.
image
11:51  
Early this month, Singh was forced to express his regret for his statement  after a call from BJP president Amit Shah who made it clear to him that "such language" was not acceptable.

Shah called Singh over the telephone and made it clear in no uncertain terms that it was unbecoming of a minister to use such a language.

The minister has kicked up a row with his remarks asking whether Congress would have accepted Sonia Gandhi's leadership had she not been white-skinned. "Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not a white-skinned woman, would the Congress have then accepted her (Sonia's) leadership?" he had told journalists last month. 
image
11:46   Giriraj Singh apologises in Parliament, house begins work
It's taken 49 minutes of Parliament time, but BJP MP Giriraj Singh has finally apologised in the house in Congress President Sonia Gandhi's presence.

Singh stood before the house and said, "I had no intention to insult anyone. If anyone was hurt by my remarks, I apologise.'

This is the second time he has apologised after he made the remarks against Sonia Gandhi.
image
11:39   Don't text, tweet in class, Milind Deora tells Derek O'Brien
It's an encore from Milind Deora and Derek O'Brien.

Just ahead of the reconvened Budget session of Parliament Deora tweeted O'Brien and BJD MP Jay Panda saying: @quizderek @PandaJay Boys, please don't forget my earlier advice - not to text or tweet during classes!

To which TMC spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien replied, @quizderek @milinddeora @PandaJay Only Jay is in class today. My school ( RS ) closed today. Milind, my friend, come back to school soon :)

An exchange of tweets between these three politicians, two of them MPs sitting in a parliamentary committee meeting, amused many on social media in February.

This is what Panda, a social media savvy politician had tweeted "Some 1st time MPs' conduct is guided by their idea of Parlmt as shown by media. Out of sync in committee mtgs (in-camera & v.difft ambience) (sic)."

Moments later, Trinamool Congress member Derek O'Brien responded, "Hmmm sitting three seats away from you ...wink :)"

Congress leader Milind Deora was not in the meeting, but apparently had the last word.

"@quizderek @PandaJay put away your smartphones and get back to work guys," he tweeted with a wink.

Deora, a former MP, lost the national election last year.
image
11:23  
Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament.
image
11:22   Lok Sabha adjourned
The Lok Sabha is adjourned till 11:45 am. The ruckus in Parliament this time around is not about the Land Bill, in fact discussion hasn't even begun.

The Congress is now demanding an apology from the PM for Giriraj Singh's statement on Sonia Gandhi. 
image
11:16   Cong insists on PM's statement
Jyotiraditya Scindia raises the objection to Giriraj Singh's comments and asks how can a minister be allowed to make such a remark. Mallikarjun Kharge says Giriraj Singh is a minister and the PM heads the council of ministers and should therefore apologise on his behalf.

BJP's Venkaiah Naidu says the party disapproves of Giriraj Singh's remarks and asks that it be discussed later. Naidu said the PM should not be dragged into this.

The Speaker asks that the session not be disrupted.
image
11:10   Cong demands PM's apology for Giriraj's comments as budget session begins
The reconvened Budget session begins in the Lok Sabha today. The Congress raises objection to MP Giriraj Singh's comment on Sonia Gandhi and wants the PM to apologise.
image
10:51   PM arrives in Parliament, Cong promises to oppose Land Bill
PM Narendra Modi arrives in Parliament. The Land Bill is to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today. Modi today appealed for support of all political parties ahead of the start of the second part of the Budget session. The government is determined to push as much legislative business as it can, including its controversial land bill. The Opposition is determined to derail those plans.
image
10:46   Sita nips night of long sickles
Around 9.15am, just 15 minutes after the CPM politburo meeting had begun, the whispers began predicting a victory for S. Ramachandran Pillai, 77. Television channels started flashing the news: Prakash Karat's nominee was poised to succeed him as party general secretary - frontrunner Sitaram Yechury, 62, had slipped out of reckoning. Read
image
10:39  
PM Modi ahead of Parliament session: "I'm confident the second half of session will also see high level of constructive discussions with similar cooperation of all parties. I'm grateful to opposition parties for their cooperation in previous Parliament session.
image
10:31   AIIMS doc commits suicide, blames 'gay' husband, also a doctor
A senior doctor of Delhi's premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMS hospital has been arrested after his wife, a fellow doctor, allegedly committed suicide on Saturday, accusing him for "immense mental torture."

Priya Vedi was found lying in blood, with her wrist slit, in a hotel in Paharganj in central Delhi. The police said they had found a detailed suicide note, in which the 31-year-old said she had discovered that her husband, Kamal, was gay soon after their wedding and "accepted it", but was forced to kill herself because of torture by him. Read

image
10:29   Putting Indian aeronautics on the international stage
There is something about the procurement of fighter aircraft from Western commercial sources that generates interest far greater than perhaps the sum of its economic or strategic content.

The entire spectacle of open tendering, nail-biting selection followed by endless negotiations, all played out in the public arena, resembles a soap opera more than the very serious business of dealing with a strategic weapon system for war fighting.

Read
image
10:18   Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan to reply to AAP showcause notice today
Rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will today reply to a showcause notice issued to them by the party.

Citing prior commitments, the AAP leaders had sought an additional time of a day to respond to the notice against the deadline of April 19.

Accused of indulging in alleged anti-party activities, Yadav had termed the notice a "joke' and raised objection to the presence of Ashish Khaitan and Pankaj Gupta's in the AAP's disciplinary committee.

In the Facebook post, he had raised questions as to how can those members be part of disciplinary committee who had made allegations against him and Bhushan earlier.

The party had served notice to senior party leaders Yadav, Bhushan, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha on April 17.The four leaders were earlier removed from the top panels of the party during its National Council.
image
10:08   LIVE! PM tweets, 'look forward to productive budget session', Land Bill to be tabled
Parliament resumes today for the second part of the Budget session and it promises to be disruptive.

This is when the Narendra Modi government is determined to push as much legislative business as it can, including its controversial land bill.

The land bill will be tabled today.

The opposition, on the other hand, is determined to derail the bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early this morning, "Parliament  session begins today. I look forward to a productive session, filled with constructive debates on several issues."

The Lok Sabha reconvenes today, but the Rajya Sabha begins on April 23.
image
09:35   Opposition to raise Kashmir, Land Acquisition issues in Parliament
The Nationalist Congress Party on Monday said the opposition will strongly raise the Kashmir issue and the Land Acquisition Bill in the Parliament.

"Both issues are important, one is a matter of national security and the other is about the rights of farmers of nation," said NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar.
image
09:33   PM Narendra Modi's 'Man Ki Baat' on April 26
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation in his monthly radio programme 'Man ki Baat' on April 26. 

The PM took to Twitter on Monday to announce the schedule of the programme.

"Looking forward to 'Mann Ki Baat' on the 26th of this month," he tweeted.
image
09:31   BSF troops stall infiltration bid in Kathua
Border Security Force troops on Sunday night stalled an infiltration attempt by militants at the International Border in Kathua.

As per reports, BSF troops opened retaliatory fire at a group of militants who were trying to enter Indian territory.
image
08:24   Tsunami warning after 6.6 magnitude quake in Japan
A tsunami as big as three feet was reportedly forecast to hit islands in Japan's far south today after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck off eastern Taiwan. 

National broadcaster NHK said waves were possible on several islands in the southern Okinawa chain after a very shallow quake centred on Yonaguni in the southwest, near Taiwan. Witnesses said buildings swayed in Taipei but there was no visible damage in the Taiwan capital.
image
08:10   Clashes, Saudi-led air strikes kill 85 in Yemen
Clashes between rebels and pro-government forces and Saudi-led air strikes killed at least 85 people in Yemen, medics and military sources said today, after Riyadh pledged to fund a UN aid appeal. 

The United Nations says hundreds of people have died and thousands of families have fled their homes since the coalition air war began on March 26 at the request of embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
image
08:09   Hindu temple vandalised in US
A Hindu temple in the US has been vandalised with nasty images spray-painted on its walls, the latest such incident in the country. The number 666 and an upside down cross was spray-painted on the door of the temple in Old Lake Highlands, north Texas. 

Krishna Singh, who is on the temple's board, said they discovered the graffiti on Monday. "That was a big shock, really...The whole things has been very disturbing to the community," CBS Local quoted Singh as saying.
image
08:08   Look forward to a productive session, filled with constructive debates on several issues, tweets PM
The Budget Session of the Parliament is to resume shortly, with the Lok Sabha reconvening its term today, while the Rajya Sabha will begin its second spell on April 23. 

Among the key legislations to be passed during this period will be the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill and the Constitution Amendment Bill for introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST), among others.
image
07:58   Protesters burn Indian flag in PoK
Hundreds of people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir burnt India's flag today in protest against crackdown on separatists in the Indian side of the region. Protesters rallied under the banner of Pasban-e-Hurriyat" (Protectors of Freedom) in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.
image
07:58   24 workers trapped in flooded coal mine in China
At least 24 workers were trapped after water flooded a coal mine in north China's Shanxi Province. 

There were 247 people working in the Jiangjiawan coal mine when the accident occurred yesterday. So far, 223 people have been evacuated while 24 others were trapped.

TOP STORIES