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Mon, 19 October 2015
Italy blocks Indian application to MTCR to protest arrest of marines

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23:48   US confirms gate forced open at bombed Afghan hospital
US and Afghan troops drove a military vehicle through a locked gate at a Doctors Without Borders hospital, 12 days after the facility was hit in a
deadly air strike, the Pentagon acknowledged today.

US and Afghan forces went to the hospital in Kunduz on October 15 as part of ongoing probes into the October 3 strike that killed at least 24 people, some of whom burned to death in their beds.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the troops were going to inspect damage and to determine if the structure could be rebuilt.

The convoy did not think any staff from Doctors Without Borders, known by its French abbreviation MSF, was present. Because the surrounding area had seen recent combat, the team decided not to stop.

"They had broken through that gate in the interests of safety and in the belief that MSF personnel were not on site," Davis said.

"Unbeknownst to our team there, there were MSF personnel and they were understandably not happy that we had broken that."

Davis said the troops were in an "Afghan, tracked vehicle" -- but not a tank -- and that coalition forces would fix the gate this week.
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23:41   Italy blocks Indian application to MTCR to protest arrest of marines
Italy has blocked Indias application to join a key missile and UAV technology control committee in protest of Indias arrest of two Italian Marines suspected of shooting dead Indian fishermen.

Italy's veto of Indias entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime, which counts 34 member states and was set up in 1987, was not supported by any other member and defies US ambitions to get India admitted to the club.

The diplomatic spat occurred in Rotterdam at the Oct. 5-9 plenary meeting of the group, whose members agree to work to stop the proliferation of missile and UAV technology capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload for at least 300 kilometers.

Decisions to admit new members must be approved unanimously, which allowed Italy to block Indias entry.

Italy was not ready to give its consensus to Indias application, a source familiar with events at the meeting said.

The source added that members were aware that Italys decision was linked to the arrest of the Marines. It didnt come up, he said, but it was the subtext, everyone knew.

Read more HERE.
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23:02   Gunman kills Israeli soldier, wounds 10 others
A man went on a shooting rampage at a bus station in southern Israel on Sunday, killing an Israeli soldier. He wounded 10 more people before police shot him dead.

Though the attack in Beer Sheva comes at a time of increased violence between Israelis and Palestinians, it isn't clear if the gunman was motivated by those tensions.

The gunman, Mohannad Al-Oqbi, was an Arab Bedouin citizen of Israel. Bedouins are their own ethnic subgroup, and some, but not all, Bedouins identify as Palestinian.

Beer Sheva is located in Israel and not in Palestinian territory.

Police have not discussed a motive, but some Bedouin groups have been at odds, at times violently, with Israeli authorities over issues of their own, according to the website of the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

In the chaos of the shootout, a security guard shot an Eritrean migrant, who was then beaten by a mob and later died.

Police say the guard had mistaken him for a second attacker.

Read more HERE.
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21:45   2 dead, 9 injured as cab slips off in Kashmir
Two persons were killed and nine others were injured today when a cab slipped off from a road in Uri area of Baramulla district in Kashmir, police
said. 

The vehicle, which was on its way from Uri town to  Machikrand, 102 kms from here, slipped off the road resulting  in the death of two persons and injuries to nine others, a  police official said.

The deceased have been identified as -- Karim Hussain (75) and Mohammad Rafiq (25) -- both local residents, the official said.

The injured were taken to sub-district hospital Uri, where doctors referred seven persons to District Hospital  Baramulla, he said.
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21:41   FTII row: Fresh meeting tomorrow
A key meeting will be held tomorrow between the government and the agitating FTII students in a fresh bid to end the four-month-long strike at
the Pune-based institute.

The meeting between Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the protesters follows several rounds of meetings held between the students and the ministry officials.

With both sides not budging from there stances, the FTII impasse has been lingering on.

While the students have been demanding removal of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the head of the FTII council, the government has rejected it outright.

In the last meeting between the two sides on October 10 in Mumbai, it was decided that the students will meet Rathore in the next meeting which is likely to be held here at noon time. 
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20:51   Saudi Arabia hajj disaster death toll at least 2,110
The crush and stampede that struck the hajj last month in Saudi Arabia killed at least 2,110 pilgrims, a new tally showed today, after officials in the kingdom met to discuss the tragedy.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the kingdom's interior minister, oversaw the meeting late yesterday, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. It did not mention any official response to the rising death toll. The country's own toll since September 26 has stood at 769 people killed and 934 injured.

"The crown prince was reassured on the progress of the investigations," the SPA report said. "He directed the committee's members to continue their efforts to find the causes of the accident, praying to Allah Almighty to accept the martyrs and wishing the injured a speedy recovery."

King Salman ordered the investigation into the September 24 tragedy in Mina, just outside the holy city of Mecca. The disaster was the deadliest in the history of the annual pilgrimage, and came after a crane collapse in Mecca earlier that month killed 111 worshippers. The twin disasters marred the first hajj to be overseen by the king since he ascended to
the throne at the start of this year.
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20:28   Govt to import 2,000 tonnes of Tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of Urad dal
With pulses soaring to as high as Rs 200 per kg mark in the retail markets, the government today decided to further import 2,000 tonnes of tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of urad dal, for which the tender will be floated by MMTC on an immediate basis. 

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and attended by agriculture, consumer affairs and commerce secretaries as well as all state chief secretaries. 

The Cabinet Secretary also directed that all the 400 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal in Delhi should start distributing imported tur dal immediately. 

Over 100 Kendriya Bhandar and Safal outlets have already commenced distribution of imported tur dal in Delhi at Rs 120 per kg. 

"It was decided that the government would further import 2,000 tonnes of tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of urad dal and tender will be floated by MMTC immediately," the Food Ministry said in a statement. 

Read more HERE.
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20:17   Modi's budget cuts have hurt fight against malnutrition: Maneka Gandhi
India's main programme to fight child malnutrition has been hit by budget cuts that make it difficult to pay wages of millions of health workers, Cabinet minister Maneka Gandhi said in a rare public criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies. 

Modi's government in February slashed social sector budgets to boost infrastructure spending in a bid to fasten the pace of economic recovery. States were asked to fill the gap from the larger share of federal taxes they receive from New Delhi. 

Gandhi, the women and child welfare minister who oversees a scheme to feed more than 100 million poor people, said the current budget was only enough to pay salaries of her 2.7 million health workers until January. "We still have problems because our cut has still not been restored. Literally, it's a month-to-month suspense on whether we can meet wages," Gandhi said, adding, "It really calls for huge attention."

Gandhi said that even before the cuts the food programme was in urgent need of modernization, with lax supervision of health workers using training programmes not updated in the last four decades and the food on offer she described as "rubbish." 
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19:27   No tolerance, no diversity: President underscores message
President Pranab Mukherjee reiterated his message on the importance of tolerance, saying without it, India's civilisation could not have survived for 5000 years. 

At a function in West Bengal's Siuri, the President said, "We celebrate diversity, we promote tolerance, we accept dissent... and if it wasn't there India's civilisation couldn't have survived for 5000 years and in any circumstances.' "We certainly can take a pledge that we save this diversity and won't let anyone spoil it," he added.
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19:20   Alibaba founder Jack Ma appointed business advisor to UK PM
One of China's top businessmen, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, has been appointed by British Prime Minister David Cameron to advise him on business. 

The announcement came the day before a four-day state visit to Britain by Chinese President Xi Jinping and as Britain seeks to boost its business ties with the world's second-largest economy.  Cameron's spokeswoman told reporters the two would meet later on Monday and that Ma, currently executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, would be joining the prime minister's business advisory group. 
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18:44   Hardik Patel, arrested for protesting outside Rajkot stadium, given bail
Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel has been released from jail on a bail bond of Rs 10,000. The Patel leader was arrested yesterday from outside the Rajkot stadium where the third India versus South Africa ODI match was being held. 

Hardik, the spearhead of Patel quota agitation and convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, and around four of his supporters were detained when he was going to the cricket stadium in the attire of a farmer,
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18:28   Is something brewing? Shatrughan Sinha meets Congress's Surjewala
Randeep Surjewala met sulking BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha amid reports of growing differences between the latter and his party, a meeting which the Congress leader described as a "social call". Surjewala, who called on Sinha at the latter's residence, later said no political significance should be attached to it. "I have deep regards for Shatrughan Sinhaji. Every personal relationship can't be viewed from political prism. Hope media friends understand," the chief spokesperson said.
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18:18   Moral science for boys: Delhi top cop's plan to fight crimes against women
Delhi Police has suggested to make value education compulsory in schools andcolleges, in the wake of the two recent cases of rape with minors. In his letter to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia,Police Commissioner B S Bassi said, "I suggest that moral education and value education should immediately be introduced for boys in schools and colleges as compulsory subjects," adding, schools should also look for "deviant behaviour" among children and provide for a "system" to "ensure" that they are corrected through counselling by psychologists. The police chief further said that the government should also assess school dropouts and provide for their rehabilitation.
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18:06   Kashmiri writer returns award over Udhampur truck attack
Another litterateur joins the bandwagon. Kashmiri litterateur Dr Marghoob Banihali to return his Sahitya Akademi award over the Udhampur truck attack victim Zahid's death.
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17:52   Pakistan Dunkin owner offers free meals to Indians to promote harmony
A businessman who owns the Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Pakistan has offered a free meal to all visiting Indians as a "goodwill gesture'. 

Iqbal Latif, who operates 26 outlets of the international food chain in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, took the step to show how Pakistanis welcome their neighbours while emulating Mahatma Gandhi's teachings.

Read more HERE
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17:44   What it is actually like to be an Indian Muslim
Sometimes people ask me what it is like to be an Indian Muslim. To be honest, most of the time the question does not make sense. When I am writing, reporting, editing, or doing the various things I do to earn a living, I am rarely conscious of either my national or religious identity. 

Of course, when I apply for a visa, my nationality comes to the forefront, as it does when I file my tax returns, pay my bills, or do most of my professional work. Frankly, quite often the identity that matters most is that I come from Gorakhpur, in Uttar Pradesh.

Read more HERE
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17:38   Rail Neer scam: 3 accused sent to police custody till Oct 23
A special court sent two senior rail officers and a businessman arrested in connection with the alleged corruption in supply of packaged drinking water in Rajdhani and other superfast trains to five-day CBI custody. Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar remanded the three accused to CBI custody till October 23 after the agency submitted they were required to be interrogated to unearth the larger conspiracy and also for recovery of certain documents.
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17:18   Ten Sainiks arrested for storming BCCI offices let out on bail
Within hours of being arrested, 10 Shiv Sena workers were let out on bail for storming into the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai and protesting against proposed talks with Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan for resumption of bilateral cricketing ties. Earlier in the day, the Sena workers had been arrested on charges of unlawfulassembly and violating the police commissioner's order to refrain from such assembling.

The ten people arrested are --- Shailesh Sarvai, Vijay Manjerakar, Vilas Khot, Ramakant Bhosle, Pradeep Yeolakar, Satish Khot, Milind Jore, Anil Jadhav, Dilip Balkhede and Mahesh Gulgule.
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17:12   Ban on Maggi noodles lifted in Gujarat and Karnataka
For those who are fans of the 2-minute noodles, there's some good news. The ban imposed on Maggi in the states of Gujarat and Karnataka have been lifted after the labs cleared them.  In June, the food regulator had banned Maggi noodles saying it was "unsafe and hazardous" for consumption after finding lead levels beyond permissible limits. The company had withdrawn the instant noodles from the market. Nestle India had challenged the ban by FSSAI in the Bombay High Court. In August, the court had lifted the nation-wide ban imposed by the Indian food regulators on Maggi noodles but ordered a fresh test of samples of the product in three independent labs across India.
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16:31   Rahul writes to PM, presses for special category status for AP
Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing for early grant of special category status for Andhra Pradesh. In his letter, the Congress vice-president has requested the Centre to grant special category status and announce a time frame for fulfillment of commitments made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014, AICC sources said. 

 His letter comes at a time when Modi is set to visit Andhra Pradesh on Oct 22 to lay the foundation stone for Amaravathi -- the new capital of the bifurcated state. 

The Act had resulted in carving separate state of Telanagana out of Andhra Pradesh some two years back which has led to lot of problems for the people in coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions.
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16:25   Kashmir lawmaker Rashid attacked with ink, oil for beef party
Ink and mobil oil were flung at Independent MLA of J-K asssembly Abdul Rashid in protest against his hosting a beef party. The Vishnu Gupta led Hindu Sena claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier too, Engineer Rashid was roughed up by BJP MLAs at the J&K Assembly for hosting a beef party.
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16:09   10 Sena activists who stormed BCCI office arrested
Police has arrested 10 Shiv Sena workers who stormed the BCCI (Mumbai) office in the morning.

The Sena activists were booked under Sections 141, 143, 149 of IPC and 37(1)/135 of Bombay Police Act.
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15:55  
Just In: Ten people arrested in the protest by Shiv Sena workers at BCCI office in Mumbai.
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15:48   SA series: Arvind included in ODI squad; Jadeja returns to Test fold
BCCI selectors have picked the Indian team for the remaining ODI matches and the first two test matches, which will be led by Virat Kohli.

India ODI squad: MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, S Arvind, Stuart Binny, Ambati Rayudu, Gurkeerat Mann.

India Test squad (first two Tests): Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Ishant Sharma.

South Africa lead the five-match ODI series 2-1. 

The remaining two matches will be played in Chennai and Mumbai respectively.

The Test series will begin from November 5 with Mohali, Bengaluru, Nagpur and Delhi as the venues respectively.
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15:29   Pranab will not perform Durga Puja at ancestral home this year
After 65 years, President Pranab Mukherjee will not perform the Durga Puja at Miriti village in Birbhum, West Bengal, this year due to the death of his wife Suvra in August this year.   

For the past 66 years Pranab Mukherjee has played the role of a priest and conducted traditional rituals of 'Mahasaptami', the first day of Durga Puja, at his ancestral village. 

The Mukherjee family tradition goes back 120 years, according to family sources, ever since the President's grandfather, Jangaleswar Mukherjee, introduced it in the village.

In 2012, Rediff.com's Indrani Roy had covered the President's Durga Puja for us, you can read her account here.
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15:25   West Indies' Samuels reported for suspect bowling action
West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels has been reported for bowling with a suspect action for a third time in his career, the International Cricket Council said on Monday.

The part-time spinner was cited after the first test against Sri Lanka, which the home side won by an innings and six runs in Galle on Saturday.

Samuels, 34, will need to undergo testing within 14 days and would be permitted to continue bowling until the results came out, the ICC said.

Samuels has already served a near-four year ban from bowling from 2008 over concerns with his action but was allowed to resume in 2011 after remedial work.
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14:40   Now, Hindu Mahasabha to observe Godse's hanging date as 'balidan diwas'
The Hindu Mahasabha has announced that it wants to commemorate November 15 -- the day Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was hanged -- as 'balidan diwas'.

The Mahasabha had last year declared that it will build temples in honour of Godse who was hanged in Ambala jail on November 15, 1949.

As per a newspaper report, Mahasabha president Chandraprakash Kaushik has drawn up plans to observe 'balidan diwas' all across the country.

"Godse was much more patriotic than Gandhi. I am very sure several people in the country think so. 'Balidan diwas' should be a day for the countrymen to sit and think why Godse killed Gandhi," Kaushik told The Economic Times.

Among the other plans, students will enact plays on Godse's life.

Members will also read out Godse's speech during the trial and distribute copies of 'Gandhivadh Kyon', a book written by Gopal Godse, Nathuram Godse's younger brother.
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14:30   Fasting Narendra Modi to skip Vijaywada feast?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip the grand lunch to be hosted by the Andhra Pradesh government after the foundation stone ceremony of the new state capital, Amaravati, on October 22.

Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for Amaravati, which will come up on the right bank of the river Krishna in Vijayawada-Guntur region. Sources said Modi is on Navaratri fast and thus he will not have lunch in Amaravati. 

Accordingly, the prime minister's tour schedule has been trimmed by an hour. Sources said Modi's visit has been cut short following an advisory from the Prime Minister's Office. 

As per the latest schedule, Modi will arrive at Uddandarayunipalem at 12.30 pm and leave the place at 1.45pm. He will spend nearly 75 minutes at the venue. 

According to the earlier itinerary, Modi was scheduled to spend about three hours in the state capital region. It is however not clear whether Modi's trip to Tirupati later in the day will be advanced. 

Modi has been observing fast during Navaratri for the last several years.

Read more HERE
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14:02  
JUST IN: Two jawans of CRPF injured in an IED blast by Maoists in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
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13:46   Tur dal prices touch Rs 200/kg today
JUST IN: Retail tur dal prices touched Rs 200/kg today as against Rs 85/kg in the year-ago period, as per government data.

Sources said the MMTC Ltd, a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of ministry of commerce, has just imported 1,000 metric tonnes of tur whole (red gram) and floated a bid for processing or conversion of tur whole pulses into tur dal.

The last date for submitting the bid is October 21 and it will be opened the same day. Moreover, the MTDC has floated another tender for import of 2,000 metric tonnes of tur dal and delivery of which is expected by November end. After the import, tur dal is to be transported to the distribution centres at Delhi, Bangalore, Bhubanneswar, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyerabad and other cities.

A National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India Ltd director said, "The tur crop takes around four months to harvest. The tur crop is still in harvest stage and the crop is processed thereafter in the mills to make tur dal. This is the fact that the kharif crop has damaged at large due to inadequate rains. The traders, which have a stock of tur dal is of last year and the rates have been artificially increased anticipating the scarcity of tur dal ahead. Hence, present hike in tur dal is nothing but a cartel."

He added, "The fresh tur crop has badly damaged and the import of tur dal is the only solution at the present situation."

Retail prices of tur dal have shot up by almost 40% in the past one month from Rs 130 a kg to Rs 180 a kg in the market due to decline in supply. Inadequate rain this monsoon badly affected the tur crop, causing scarcity of the produce.
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13:22   In Bengaluru, Australian man is harassed, made to apologize for tattoo on shin
An Australian national has said that he and his friend were abused and harassed by an unruly crowd in Bengaluru on Saturday for having a tattoo of a goddess on his shin. 

He said police and the mob forced him to write an apology in the police station. 

Matt Keith and his friend Emily were accosted by the mob outside a restaurant on Residency Road. The mob took objection to Keith having a tattoo of the goddess, Yellamma, on his shin. The crowd began heckling the duo, and Keith called a friend. 

Ashoknagar police also arrived at the spot. Keith and his friends were taken to the police station and the mob followed. The crowd and police allegedly forced Matt to write an apology letter. 

Matt was quoted in The Hindu saying, 'The policemen advised me on Hindu religion and insisted I give a written apology for not covering my goddess tattoo, even as the group just watched. I tried taking law points, but had to finally give in as my girlfriend was in tears as the cops wouldnt let us go.'

Matt, who also has a Ganesha tattoo on his back, said that he didn't want to stay in Bengaluru anymore and that he shouldn't be victimised for following his spiritual journey and the markings on his body.

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12:52   Politics shouldn't be mixed with cricket: ICC
Condemning the attack on BCCI headquarters in Mumbai by Shiv Sena workers protesting against the proposed Indo-Pak bilateral cricket series, ICC president Zaheer Abbas today said politics should never be mixed with sports.

The Shiv Sena workers were protesting against BCCI president Shashank Manohar's much-anticipated meeting with PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, to discuss the fate of a proposed bilateral series slated for December.

Reacting on the issue, Abbas, who is also a former Pakistan cricketer, said: "It's not a new thing. It's been happening for long. But being the ICC president, I want cricket to spread all around the world." 

"Politics and cricket are two different things. Pakistan is not asking India to play in Pakistan. Pakistan is asking for a bilateral series to be played at a neutral venue," he told TV channels. 

The ICC president said the entire cricketing world is waiting for an Indo-Pak series to take place.

"Nothing better than India and Pakistan playing each other. The whole world and the people of both India and Pakistan are waiting for the series. The world is hoping that India will give a good news to the cricketing world," said Abbas, who is regarded as one of the finest batsmen of Pakistan.
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12:11  
JUST IN: Sheena Bora case: CBI raids 9 locations in Mumbai, Goa, Assam, West Bengal and MP
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12:06   Nepal Dy PM Thapa meets Modi amid blockade row
Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi amidst attempts to resolve their twin concerns over making Nepal's constitution more inclusive, and easing the blockage of more than 2,500 trucks at the India-Nepal border that has led to weeks of chronic fuel, food and medicine shortages inside that country.

Thapa, who is on his three day official visit to India, met the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday and discussed range of issues of mutual interest including the present border blockade.

According to sources, Swaraj asked Thapa about the roadmap to resolve the political deadlock in Nepal, and told that the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister that peace and reconciliation with all groups is the way out to resolve political impasse.

Thapa assured that Nepal is committed to resolve the political crisis.

The deputy prime minister asked for India's help in sending more than 300 fuel laden trucks via alternative routes, and to ease down the supply of essential supplies goods, sources added.
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11:54   Probe ordered after Muslim youths are allegedly beaten up by Mumbai cops and told to go to Pak
An inquiry has been ordered by the Mumbai police into the alleged incident of cops brutally assaulting two Muslim boys in custody in the Bandra police station on Saturday and a constable telling them to go back to Pakistan, reported The Indian Express

The police has, however, said that the two youths Asif Shaikh and Danish Shaikh -- both 19 year old -- were taken to the police station for a scuffle and assaulting a cop. 

After the alleged assault by the police, Asif had to be hospitalised and Danish was left injured, states the report. 

The report quotes Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), as saying, "DCP Zone IX has started his inquiry. He should be given some time to speak to both sides. We are recording statements of the so-called victims and also of the police officers. If there are allegations, they should come forward with some proof."

Asif, who is indergoing treatment at the Bhabha hospital in Bandra, told The Indian Express, "They had handcuffed me. I was stripped and beaten by eight police officers. At one point they threatened to use oil as a tool to torture I cried and begged them to stop. I even questioned about the reasons to beat me up. That agitated them further."
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11:32   Actor Vishal ends veteran Sarath Kumar's rule in southern film body
In by far one of the most bitterly fought elections to various posts of South Indian Artistes' Association, young hero Vishal Reddy led 'Pandavar Ani' (Pandava Team) virtually swept the polls, capturing all five top posts even as the bitter sparring between the rivals seemed to give way to camaraderie. 

Veteran actor M Nasser, Vishal and Si Karthi were elected President, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively trouncing candidates from the opposition camp led by outgoing SIAA head R Sarath Kumar.

Their fellow candidates Ponvannan and Karunaas were elected as Vice-Presidents, leaving nothing for the rival camp.

A visibly exhausted Kumar, also an MLA, sought to underplay his defeat, saying loss and win were common in democratically held elections and that he was ready to extend support to Nasser and his colleagues for smooth functioning of SIAA.

He also extended his greetings to the winning members, with his supporters and losing candidates, Radha Ravi and SSR Kannan, following suit. 

New President-elect Nasser said that the winning side was experiencing an "unexplainable feeling" and said it will take some time for it to settle down.
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11:31   BCCI-PCB talks rescheduled after Sena protest
JUST IN: BCCI-PCB talks, which were to take place on Monday, have been rescheduled after Shiv Sena staged a protest at the cricket body's HQ in Mumbai against Board president Shashank Manohar's scheduled meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan to discuss the fate of bilateral series slated for December.

Earlier, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla took to Twitter to condemn the attack on the BCCI's headquarters.

"Strongly condemn the attack on BCCI Office by Shiv Sena," Shukla, a top BCCI functionary, wrote on his twitter handle.

"BCCI is a responsible body and will not do anything against national interest. Cricketing decisions should be left to BCCI."

"Cricket is a gentleman's game and the spirit of the game expects same generosity and tolerance from those who love the game," he further tweeted. 
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11:25   Gold prices slip below Rs 27k in futures trade on global cues
Gold prices today eased below the Rs 27,000-mark by falling Rs 178 to Rs 26,972 per 10 grams in futures trade amid a weak global trend. 

At Multi Commodity Exchange, delivery in December contract was trading lower by Rs 178, or 0.66 per cent, at Rs 26,972 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 377 lots. 

Also, the precious metal for delivery in far-month February next year contracts shed Rs 173, or 0.63 per cent, to Rs 27,185 per ten grams in 7 lots. 

Analysts attributed the fall in gold futures to a weak global trend where it retreated from three-month high as signs of a buoyant US economy revived expectations that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates and data showed that China expanded quicker than economists forecast in the third quarter.
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10:44   Sena workers storm BCCI office in Mumbai, raise slogans against Shahryar Khan
JUST IN: Shiv Sena workers have stormed the office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, in Mumbai and are raising slogans against Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Shahryar Khan.

Khan and head of the PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi on Sunday arrived in India in a bid to convince the BCCI to confirm the India-Pakistan cricket series in December.

Shaharyar and Sethi are scheduled to meet Manohar and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur along with other government officials on Monday.

"The PCB is mentally prepared to even settle for a shorter series but want it to be Pakistan's home series and in the UAE," a PCB source was quoted as saying by PTI.

He said Sethi, who heads the Pakistan Super League project, will also be officially asking the Indian board to allow some of their players to appear in the league scheduled for next February in Dubai and Sharjah.

Media reports have also talked about a possible triangular series in December also involving Bangladesh.
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10:44   We know what our agenda is, what's yours: Amit Shah to media
BJP President Amit Shah on Monday held a press conference in Patna. 

Here are the highlights of what he had to say:

* Not 1 question of yours (the media) has been about Bihar's development. We know what our agenda is, what's yours?

* I am BJP's chief. Why are you talking to me about Hindu Mahasabha? RSS has explained Bhagwatji's statement was about Rajasthan. BJP will not change reservation policy

* 'Bihar does not want to be a BIMARU state now

* Even today Bihar is very backward when it comes to a lot of issues. That is what we will focus on when we come to power.

* In the first phase of polling we are winning 32-34 seats; in the second phase, 22-24 seats.

* During the entire election process, the primary issue has been of development.

* To take focus away from development agenda, some statements are being highlighted on beef or reservation
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09:49   Sensex soars on RIL earnings, stock jumps 5.13%
The benchmark BSE Sensex surged over 120 points in early trade today after sentiment was bolstered on the back of Reliance Industries' robust second-quarter earnings announced last Friday. 

The 30-share index, which had gained 434.94 points in the previous two sessions, rallied 120.27 points, or 0.44 per cent, at 27,334.87, with stocks of oil and gas, realty, IT, power and capital goods, leading the upmove.

Similarly, the NSE index Nifty edged higher by 17.10 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 8,255.25. 

Brokers said sustained buying by funds and retailers after Reliance Industries reported its highest ever quarterly net profit of Rs 6,720 crore for the September quarter post trading hours on Friday mainly buoyed sentiment. 

Shares of RIL climbed 5.13 per cent to Rs 959 in early trade today. 

However, a mixed  trend in other Asian bourses restricted the rise, brokers added.
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09:48   Wal-Mart paid millions of dollars in bribes in India: report
America's multinational retail corporation Wal-Mart is suspected to have paid bribes worth millions of dollars in India, according to a media report. 

In a major report, The Wall Street Journal said Wal-Mart's "suspected bribery" unearthed in India involves thousands of small payments to low-level local officials to help move goods through customs or obtain real-estate permits.

"The vast majority of the suspicious payments were less than $200 (nearly Rs 13,000), and some were as low as $5 (Rs 325), the people said, but when added together they totalled millions of dollars," the daily said.

In 2013, Wal-Mart shelved plans to open retail stores in India by severing a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises Ltd and instead decided to become solely a wholesaler there, the report said. 

Walmart, who was pushing the previous UPA regime for opening of the multi-brand retail sector was also involved in lobbying before the US Congress in this regard, Congressional disclosure reports have said in the past few years. 

According to the report, Wal-Mart's massive bribery efforts is unlikely to bring in any penalty on it as its Indian operation does not yield any profit under the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States.

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09:45   HCL Technologies Q1 net profit dips 2.7% to Rs 1,823 cr
India's fourth-largest software services provider HCL Technologies today reported 2.7 per cent drop in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,823 crore for the first quarter ended September 30, 2015.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,873 crore in the year-ago period, it said in a BSE filing. 

HCL had already warned of a "tepid" September quarter on account of adverse currency impact and a client-specific issue.

Without the adjustment, the reported quarter's revenues stood at Rs 1,726 crore.

Consolidated revenues grew 15.6 per cent to Rs 10,097 crore (ex-adjustment) in July-September of this fiscal as against Rs 8,735 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal.

The firm follows July-June as the fiscal year. In dollar terms, net profit declined 9.3 per cent to USD 278.5 million (ex-adjustment) in the period under review as against USD 307.2 million in the year-ago period. 

Revenues rose 7.7 per cent to USD 1.54 billion during the review period, from USD 1.43 billion in the corresponding quarter last fiscal.
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09:43   West prepares to end sanctions as Iran deal adopted
The United States and Europe have begun preparing to lift the trade sanctions that have hobbled the Iranian economy, as a historic nuclear deal came into effect.

The procedure to lift the embargo began 90 days after the UN Security Council endorsed the accord signed in Vienna in July, a milestone referred to as "Adoption Day." 

But foreign firms will not be able to resume ties with Iran's oil industry and banks right away -- sanctions will remain in place until Iran fulfills its end of the bargain. 

The next stage in the process -- "implementation day" -- will only come when UN nuclear watchdog the IAEA confirms Iran has dramatically scaled back its nuclear programme. 

Iran said that lengthy process will probably start this week.
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09:09   Shutdown in Kashmir Valley over trucker's death, curfew clamped
JUST IN: Restrictions have been imposed in several areas of Kashmir on Monday to prevent the activities of separatists, who have called for a shutdown in the Valley after truck driver Zahid Rasool Bhat, who was being treated for serious burn injuries in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, died on Sunday.

Taking preventive measures, the state administration has clamped curfew in Srinagar where Bhatt's funeral will be held and other sensitive areas.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the state government was to blame for Bhat's death as it failed to provide security to the truckers.

Zahid Bhat and another Kashmiri from Anantnag district, Showkat Ahmad Dar, 35, had sustained major injuries when a mob hurled a petrol bomb following beef rumours on their stationary truck at Udhampur on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

The attack was carried out in Jammu's Udhampur after rumours that three cows were killed in the area. Zahid and his helper, Showkat, who were on their way to Srinagar, had to be moved to Delhi for treatment.

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09:07   RAW planning to kill Sharif, Saeed: Pakistan govt
Times of India reports: Pakistan's intelligence agencies have warned the government that Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing has tasked its agents to kill Pakistani Prome Minister Nawaz Sharif and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed to create chaos in the country on a massive level. 

The reports, the home department of Pakistan's Punjab province said, were received on Thursday and it subsequently issued a highalert to security institutions over an assassination threat to Sharif and Saeed. 

"It has been reliably learnt that RAW has planned to undertake high-value assassinations in Pakistan to create a wide-scale chaos," read a letter issued by the department. 

RAW had already tasked agents to assassinate the PM and Saeed, it said. 

"RAW officials are planning to portray the actions as retaliatory strikes by extremist groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to avenge recent terrorist actions," the circular added
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09:05   Jaitley's attack on writers was both ill-informed and ill-judged: Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha on why he sees Arun Jaitley's remarks as an insult to intelligence of writers:

When I saw on Twitter that the finance minister had written a blog attacking writers, I was puzzled. When the goods and services tax hangs unresolved, when drought stalks the land, when major questions of monetary policy are being debated, why would the man in charge of the Indian economy expend time and energy on us mere writers?

Then I read Arun Jaitleys blog itself, and my puzzlement increased. From what I have seen or heard of him (we have never met), Jaitley seems a reasonable, even-tempered man. But this attack was ill-tempered, and at times even ad hominem...

Read more HERE
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08:57   Sedition case filed against Hardik Patel in Surat
Hardik Patel, the 22 years old leader of the Patel quota stir, has been charged with sedition over alleged remarks on killing cops in video, media reports quoting Surat Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.

On October 3, Patel had reportedly advised a youth from the community to rather kill policemen than commit suicide.

"If you have so much courage...then go and kill a couple of policemen. Patels never commit suicide," Hardik said in Surat, speaking to a local youth, Vipul Desai, who had announced that he would commit suicide in support of the agitation.

Later, Hardik denied that he gave such an advice. "I have not given any advice to kill policemen. This is an attempt to misguide the people. If I am seen giving such a statement in any video or audio, then action should be taken against me," he said.

The Gujarat Police had then said that the young leader's provocative and insensible statement regarding killing cops violated limits of law.
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08:41   Pakistan to appoint ex-general as new national security advisor
Pakistan is about to appoint a former general as national security advisor, tightening the powerful military's control over security policy and negotiations with arch rival India, officials said Sunday.

Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua, who retired from the military this week, will be appointed national security advisor soon and will accompany Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his trip to the United States next week, one military official and two civilians said.

The post is currently held by Sartaj Aziz, a civilian who is a close ally of Sharif. Aziz also holds the portfolio for foreign affairs.

"The army chief feels that Sartaj Sahib's attention is divided," a military source said. "So it has been decided that General Janjua will be appointed the national security adviser and Sartaj Aziz can give his full attention to the foreign office."

"This is not about the PM conceding to the army chief or the army being a bully, not at all. This is about both sides deciding together."

Read more HERE
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08:36   China's economy grows 6.9 pc in Q3, weakest since 2009
China posted its weakest quarterly economic growth since the global financial crisis on Monday, raising pressure on policymakers to cut interest rates further and roll out other support measures to avert a sharper slowdown.

Chinese leaders have been trying to reassure jittery global markets for months that the economy is under control after a shock devaluation of the yuan and a summer stock market plunge fanned fears of a hard landing.

The world's second-largest economy grew 6.9 percent in the July-September quarter from a year ago, slightly better than analysts' estimate of 6.8 percent, but down from 7 percent in the second quarter.

That is the weakest reading since the first quarter of 2009, when growth tumbled to 6.2 percent. However, analysts still mostly believe China's slowdown will be gradual rather than more calamitous.

Read more HERE
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08:27   250 slum dwellings destroyed in fire in East Delhi's Mangolpuri
At least 250 slum dwellings were destroyed in a fire in the early hours today in East Delhi's Mangolpuri area. No casualties have been reported.

The fire department received a call around 2 am about the blaze that also gutted a plastic godown.

28 fire tenders have been pressed into action.

The cause of the fire, which has been brought under control, is not known yet.

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08:24   Sharif leaves for US visit with hopes of bagging a nuke deal
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will proceed on a four-day visit to the US today for talks on a host of issues with President Barack Obama. 

"During the visit, the Prime Minister will discuss besides regional situation, matters relating to defence, counter-terrorism, economic, trade, education, health and climatic change," state-run Radio Pakistan reported. 

Sharif had been invited for the visit by Obama. He will meet the US president on October 22.

According to official sources, he will apprise Obama about his vision for regional peace and building stable and peaceful ties with all neighbouring countries, especially India and Afghanistan.

He is also expected to share evidence of alleged "Indian interference" in internal affairs of Pakistan and support for militants active in Balochistan and Karachi. 

Sharif will also inform Obama about Pakistan's efforts to start a dialogue between Afghanistan government and Taliban. 

Sources said that that Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar was already in the US where he is meeting officials and helping preparing grounds for the visit with the prime minister with help of Pakistan embassy. 

The two sides also expected to talk over nuclear-related issues as Pakistan is pushing for a civilian nuclear agreement on the lines of the deal the US has with India. 
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08:23   Pandal hosting tallest Durga idol shuts down
The Kolkata Police on Sunday evening stopped entry of people inside Deshapriya Park to witness the tallest Druga idol for an "indefinite" period citing security and safety reasons.

Blaming that the Puja organisers have failed to put up a proper infrastructure to host an event, which attracted "peculiar media hype that created unwanted attention of the people," city Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purokayasta said that the step was taken after a massive crowd choked the Park and its surrounding roads.

"There was a massive crowd at Deshapriya Park this evening that put up a question mark on the safety and security of the people coming to see the idol," Purokayasta said. 

"The organisers have failed to put up a proper infrastructure there. They have not planned it properly and because of the hype created with the height of the idol, huge number of visitors are coming to the venue resulting to a strange situation," he said. 

"Our primary concern is to ensure that people out to witness Durga Puja, are safe. So we have decided to stop entry of people there," he said. 

The Kolkata Police would conduct a review of the venue on Monday morning after which "we will take a call," the CP said.
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08:22   SCA repeats disruption of Dhoni's post-match media meet
The post-match media conference by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni got disrupted for the second time in three years at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday because of laser show and bursting of crackers by the organisers.

Just as Dhoni walked into the media conference room after India had lost to South Africa by 18 runs in the third ODI, the laser show and fireworks began to upset the scheduled official event.

He tried in vain to answer the questions put to him by the mediapersons without success, asked the reporters to wait for a while and went to see the din created by SCA before returning to answer questions in detail. 

An identical thing had happened in 2013 when SCA hosted its first ever international game at this newly built venue, a ODI against England. 

On that occasion the power had been switched off to allow the spectators to enjoy the laser show, leaving the media persons flummoxed and Dhoni bemused.

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