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Thu, 11 August 2016
Scientists made 'scapegoats' in Antrix Devas case: Madhavan Nair
Timeline Refresh
23:14 Kejriwal 'fresh, energetic' after Vipassana
At the end of his sojourn in the hills, a "fresh and energetic" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be in the thick of action with ministers and officials prepared to brief him on crucial developments including the setback in the Delhi high court.
An AAP functionary said that Kejriwal, who will return to the capital on Thursday night, will be briefed by senior party leaders and his Cabinet ministers on a host of issues that took place in his absence.
"Returning from 10-day Vipassna course. Feeling v fresh n energetic," Kejriwal tweeted earlier in the day.
Soon after, he shared an article, critical of the court order, written by AAP leader Ashish Khetan.
The Court order had come at a time when Kejriwal was attending a vipassana session at a meditation centre at Dharamkot in Himachal Pradesh, where he had no access to newspapers, telephone and social media.
The AAP chief used to start his day at 4.30am every day during the session.
The chief minister has so far not reacted to the verdict which stamped the primacy of Lt Governor in administration of Delhi. The government has already announced it would move Supreme Court against the order.
"The CM will be briefed by senior AAP leaders about several issues including the Court order either at his residence or the Delhi Secretariat," an official said.
23:10 Do not to make provocative speeches during Friday prayers: Police to Imams
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday made an appeal to the Imams not to make "provocative speeches" during Friday prayers so that the people with vested interest do not exploit the situation.
"The Imams and Khateebs are requested not to deliver provocative speeches so that the situation is not exploited by vested interests," a police spokesman said.
He said it has been observed that after the culmination of Friday prayers miscreants force the people to assemble on the chowks and roads, thus obstructing the normal traffic.
"Many a times these gatherings are manipulated to pelt stones upon the police/security force deployments. In order to avoid such situations the parents are requested not to allow their children to take part in such activities," he said, adding youth are advised not to fall prey to such machinations.
22:58 Scientists made "scapegoats" in Antrix Devas case: Madhavan Nair
Former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair on Thursday said scientists have been made "scapegoats" in the Antrix-Devas case after he was named in the chargesheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Nair said he and others who have been named as an accused in the chargesheet in connection with the controversial deal have done nothing wrong and blamed the then United Progressive Alliance government for the "hasty" decision to cancel the agreement with Devas Multimedia over which India lost an arbitration case in an international tribunal in Hague recently.
The eminent scientist said this shortly after he along with some scientists and officials were charged by CBI under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating besides provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
Nair said he failed to understand on what basis the case has been filed.
Defending the decision to lease coveted spectrum of INSAT sattelite to Devas Multimedia, Nair said in company to company agreement, the government is not kept in the loop and this practice is still continuing.
He said over a dozen such agreements were signed by Antrix with different companies providing similar services.
"The leasing of transponder capacity has been the primary role of Antrix/DOS and we have established in that time frame more than a dozen such agreements with major players like Tata Sky, Sun Tv etc who hired transponder capacity from us. This hiring of transponder capacity by Devas was on same lines, it was no way different," Nair said.
The former secretary, space department said ISRO never bothered about what business gains any of these companies make out of their using the transponder.
On the CBI chargesheet, Nair said he did not have detailed information about but from what he heard it was related to Antrix-Devas contract, established in 2005, and they were trying to see how Devas made money by selling their shares at such high value and so on.
22:23 Delhi hit-and-run: Driver of delivery van arrested
The accused in the hit-and-run case in Delhi's Subhash Nagar area, which had triggered outrage as the victim lay bleeding on the road for nearly an hour even as people walked past him, was nabbed by the police on Thursday evening.
"Based on the CCTV footage from the accident site, the accused identified as the driver of the tempo delivery van, Rajesh, has been nabbed," said a senior police officer.
Earlier, the police had identified the vehicle through its telltale signs as were seen in the CCTV footage and reached to its driver Rajesh who lived at Mahavir Nagar in Uttam Nagar area.
The accused was absconding and manhunt was launched to nab him.
"Based on the CCTV footage from the accident site, the accused identified as the driver of the tempo delivery van, Rajesh, has been nabbed," said a senior police officer.
Earlier, the police had identified the vehicle through its telltale signs as were seen in the CCTV footage and reached to its driver Rajesh who lived at Mahavir Nagar in Uttam Nagar area.
The accused was absconding and manhunt was launched to nab him.
21:53 UP infant's death: Akhilesh orders removal of chief medical superintendent
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday ordered removal of the Chief Medical Superintendent of the government hospital in Bahraich where an infant died allegedly after he was not given timely treatment by the staff as his parents could not pay the bribe demanded by them.
The chief minister has directed to remove the chief medical superintendent of the hospital, an official spokesman said in Lucknow.
He said that Yadav has said that his government was committed to provide better medical facilities to the people, and stern action will be taken against insensitive doctors ignoring the patients.
The chief minister has directed to remove the chief medical superintendent of the hospital, an official spokesman said in Lucknow.
He said that Yadav has said that his government was committed to provide better medical facilities to the people, and stern action will be taken against insensitive doctors ignoring the patients.
21:23 Terrorists injure two civilians in Kashmir
Terrorists today shot at and injured two civilians in Tangmarg area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.
The terrorists opened fire on Aftab Ahmed and Abdur Rehman at Tangmarg on the Srinagar-Gulmarg raod at around 7 pm, injuring the two civialans, a police official said. While Aftab was admitted to local hospital, Rehman has been referredf to a hospital in Srinagar, he said.
The terrorists opened fire on Aftab Ahmed and Abdur Rehman at Tangmarg on the Srinagar-Gulmarg raod at around 7 pm, injuring the two civialans, a police official said. While Aftab was admitted to local hospital, Rehman has been referredf to a hospital in Srinagar, he said.
20:54 26 laid-off Indians return from Saudi Arabia
The first batch of 26 Indian workers, who had lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia, arrived in New Delhi today after the country issued them exit visas.
Saudi Arabia had agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India during visit of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh to the Gulf nation last week.
"Minister of State, V K Singh has had very productive meetings with the Labour minister and other senior ministers during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"As a result of these meetings, the process of lodging claims and for those wishing to come back to India has already started," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
He said India appreciated the 'magnanimous view' taken by the Saudi Arabian Government of granting exit visas expeditiously and agreeing to bear the expenses for the travel of the workers.
Saudi Arabia has also set up a crisis management group to address difficulties being faced by the jobless Indian workers while a separate panel has been appointed to look into their claims relating to unpaid wages.
Saudi rules restricts foreign workers to leave the country without NoC by the employers.
"The swift action to tackle a localised problem specific only to some companies of Saudi Arabia signifies the deep and abiding relationship that our two countries share. We are confident that this will alleviate the problems faced by workers of all nationalities," said the MEA spokesperson.
Swarup referred to the difficulties of retrenched workers of Saudi Oger limited and said the first batch of 26 Indian workers were issued exit visas.
The workers came by a flight from Jeddah. "From here, respective state governments will be making arrangements for their travel to their home towns," Swarup said.
Saudi Arabia had agreed to swiftly resolve plight of thousands of laid-off Indian workers including providing them free passage to return to India during visit of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh to the Gulf nation last week.
"Minister of State, V K Singh has had very productive meetings with the Labour minister and other senior ministers during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"As a result of these meetings, the process of lodging claims and for those wishing to come back to India has already started," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
He said India appreciated the 'magnanimous view' taken by the Saudi Arabian Government of granting exit visas expeditiously and agreeing to bear the expenses for the travel of the workers.
Saudi Arabia has also set up a crisis management group to address difficulties being faced by the jobless Indian workers while a separate panel has been appointed to look into their claims relating to unpaid wages.
Saudi rules restricts foreign workers to leave the country without NoC by the employers.
"The swift action to tackle a localised problem specific only to some companies of Saudi Arabia signifies the deep and abiding relationship that our two countries share. We are confident that this will alleviate the problems faced by workers of all nationalities," said the MEA spokesperson.
Swarup referred to the difficulties of retrenched workers of Saudi Oger limited and said the first batch of 26 Indian workers were issued exit visas.
The workers came by a flight from Jeddah. "From here, respective state governments will be making arrangements for their travel to their home towns," Swarup said.
20:31 Pak writes to Arab League against 'Indian atrocities' in Kashmir
Pakistan today said it has written to the Arab League highlighting 'horrific Indian brutalities' in Kashmir and asked its member countries to intervene. Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in a letter to the Secretary-General of Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said the current unrest in the Valley was a 'manifestation of continued and long-held alienation' of the Kashmiris, the Foreign Office said.
'The Advisor underscored that India has unleashed a reign of terror against the innocent and defenceless civilians since the extra-judicial killing of a young Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani,' the FO said.
The advisor also emphasised that the current situation in Kashmir is the result of the continued denial by India of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris that was promised to them by the United Nations Security Council in the relevant resolutions.
Aziz also said the spontaneous and massive uprising is a manifestation that the 'Kashmir struggle is totally indigenous which cannot be equated with terrorism'.
The Arab League countries were also urged to call upon India to immediately stop the 'bloodshed and massacre' in Kashmir and implement the pending UNSC resolutions.
The letter is the latest attempt by Pakistan to involve the international community in the Kashmir issues.
'The Advisor underscored that India has unleashed a reign of terror against the innocent and defenceless civilians since the extra-judicial killing of a young Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani,' the FO said.
The advisor also emphasised that the current situation in Kashmir is the result of the continued denial by India of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris that was promised to them by the United Nations Security Council in the relevant resolutions.
Aziz also said the spontaneous and massive uprising is a manifestation that the 'Kashmir struggle is totally indigenous which cannot be equated with terrorism'.
The Arab League countries were also urged to call upon India to immediately stop the 'bloodshed and massacre' in Kashmir and implement the pending UNSC resolutions.
The letter is the latest attempt by Pakistan to involve the international community in the Kashmir issues.
20:15 Dalit atrocity should not be politicised: Rajnath Singh tells Lok Sabha
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke in the Lok Sabha on atrocities against Dalits issue.
"This issue must not be politicised, this is a challenge for all of us. We will make an attempt to curb it," Rajnath Singh on Dalit atrocities.
"We can't make progress until the poor and downtrodden are empowered. Blame game is not the solution," HM Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
"What happened in Una is painful and condemnable. The state Govt took whatever steps it could," Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
In response the Congress stages walkout from Lok Sabha during Home Minister Rajnath Singh's reply in the house on Atrocities against Dalits.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned shortly after.
19:54 Anandiben, Najma, Shankaramurthy likely to get governorships of Punjab, Mizoram, TN
The Modi government is set to announce three new governors for soon after Parliament session is over.
Anandiben Patel, Najma Heptulla and D H Shankaramurthy are being tipped for the governorship of Punjab, Mizoram and Tamil Nadu respectively.
Veteran BJP leader and legislative council Chairperson D H Shankaramurthy is likely to be appointed as the governor of Tamil Nadu. If so, Shankaramurthy will be replacing incumbent K Rosaiah, whose term ends on August 31.
Shankaramurthy has previously served as minister of higher education and leader of the Opposition in the state's legislative council.
Anandiben Patel, who recently quit as the chief minister of Gujarat, is likely to be made governor of Punjab, while Najma Heptulla, who was the minister for minority affairs until July this year, is likely to get the governorship of Mizoram.
19:38 Sonia running fever, hospital stay extended
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, undergoing treatment at a private hospital for the last nine days after after taking ill during a roadshow in Varanasi, is running fever and doctors have advised her to extend her stay
by a few days.
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, where she was admitted on August 3 with fever, dehydration and a shoulder injury, said 69-year-old Gandhi still has mild fever which delayed her discharge.
"Today morning, a team of doctors has examined Mrs Gandhi. They have advised her to remain in hospital on account of fever due to infection in the body. She is on antibiotics and is showing signs of improvement from the infection," said Dr DS Rana, Chairman of Board of Management of the hospital.
19:05 Haryana to issue id cards to 'Gau Rakshaks'
Amid an uproar over cow vigilantism, Haryana government has decided to carry out police verification of all members of the 'Gau Raksha Dals' in
the state and is considering issuing them identity cards.
Haryana government's 'Gau Sewa Ayog', which carries out activities for protection of cows, said the step will prevent unscrupulous elements from extorting money and harassing people in the name of cow protection.
"We have decided to get the police verification done of all the Gau Raksha Dals working in the state. Once the verification is done, we may issue them I-Cards which will be their identity," Ayog's chairman Bhani Ram Mangla said.
"This step is aimed at stopping any fake cow protectors from extracting money from people and thrashing innocents in the name of cow protection and it will also help in exposing those unscrupulous people who operate as Gau Raksha Dals," Mangla said.
18:42 10 killed, 20 injured in vehicle pile-up in east China
At least 10 people were today killed and 20 others injured, including two seriously, when a vehicle pile-up occurred in east China involving two buses, a car and a motorcycle.
The pile-up took place in Boshan district of Shadong province's Zibo city around 8:23 am when a truck collided with two buses, a car and a motorcycle on a village road, state-run news agency Xinhua quoted the district government as saying.
Four persons on a bus, one in the car and another in the truck died, an initial report said.
Two of the 20 injured were said to be in critical condition.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
18:39 M J Akbar to travel to Syria, Iraq; will discuss IS threat, Indian hostages
In his first official visit, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar will travel to Lebanon, Syria and Iraq from August 17-23 during which he will discuss with the West Asian leadership key security issues, including threat by the Islamic State and the 39 Indians who were taken hostage in war-hit Mosul.
This was announced by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, who said the visit to these three important countries in West Asia is a reaffirmation of India's deep interest in promoting bilateral relations as also in the peace and security in the region in its extended neighbourhood.
The spokesperson also said that the minister's visit will also give India an opportunity to have first-hand assessment of evolving security situation in that region.
18:35 30 more youths joined terror groups upto July this year, government reveals
With upsurge in militancy in the Kashmir Valley, the government today admitted that as many as 30 youths have joined various terror groups upto July this year.
This was stated by minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir in Rajya Sabha while replying to a question asking whether a "new age militancy" was on the rise in Kashmir in which educated young men from the Valley were taking up arms for the first time since 1990.
The question was asked by Samajwadi Party's Amar Singh who also wanted to know whether a large number of educated young men from the Valley have gone to Pakistan for arms training.
In his reply, Ahir said as per reports, the number of youths who joined militant ranks during 2015 and up to July 2016 stood at 83 and 30 respectively.
18:01 Pakistan cricket legend Mohammad Hanif passes away
Former Test cricketer and batting legend Hanif Mohammad breathed his last in a local hospital in Karachi on Thursday. The legendary cricketer, who was dubbed as 'The Little Master', died at the age of 81.
Hanif Mohammad was admitted to hospital a week ago and as per the doctors, his condition was critical. He was diagnosed with cancer for the second time.
Earlier in the day, was declared clinically dead for six minutes on Thursday before he was revived back to life at the Aga Khan hospital.
Hanif's son, Shoaib Muhammad first announced from the hospital on various television channels that his father had passed away after losing a protracted battle with various ailments due to which doctors had put the former legend on a ventilator. But few minutes later it was announced that Hanif had not passed away and was alive.
17:44 Antrix-Devas deal: Ex-ISRO chief Madhavan Nair booked by CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against the former Indian Space Research Organisatio chief Madhavan Nair in the Antrix Devas case involving a loss of allegedly Rs 578 crore in an agreement between the multi-media company Devas and Antrix.
This is one of the biggest scams to have hit the space sector of India due to which the ISRO chief Madhavan Nair had to resign early than his stipulated time period.
The CBI filed the FIR in Bengaluru on March 16, 2015, and slapped cases under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case.
17:24 Huffington Post co-founder and editor-in-chief to leave company
Arianna Huffington, who co-founded the Huffington Post 11 years ago and built it into one of the largest digital media outlets in the US says she will be leaving the company in the coming weeks to focus on a soon-to-launch startup dedicated to issues of health and wellness -- Thrive Global.
She wrote on Twitter, "I thought HuffPost would be my last act. But Ive decided to step down as HuffPosts editor-in-chief to run my new venture, Thrive Global.
"To everyone at HuffPost: its you who make HuffPost what it is. Im filled with gratitude to all the colleagues and friends Ive made here."
17:14 I-Day security: Counter-terror mock drills done at Red Fort
Over a dozen mock drills are being conducted by security agencies every day in and around the Red Fort area to thwart possible terror threats during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
Officials tasked to create an impregnable air-to-ground security for the event next week, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the tri-colour and address the nation, have deployed an assortment of over three dozen sniffer dogs and sophisticated gadgets to ensure that the event is conducted peacefully.
The security of the 17th century monument has been completely taken over by the PM's security units, both Delhi Police and the Special Protection Group, and the ministry of defence from the CISF on August 8 and the fort has been completely locked out and closed for public till the Independence Day event.
In light of the possible intelligence inputs by central security agencies, they said, a dozen mock drills like placing of improvised explosive devices in unsuspected areas, storming of the facility by terrorists, sabotage by planting bombs and similar others are being created every day to check the preparedness of multiple security agencies deployed here like Delhi Police, CISF, ITBP, CRPF and sharp shooters of the elite National Security Guard.
While an estimated 4,000 security personnel will be deployed to secure the Red Fort and its adjoining area, almost 3,000 others have been kept on standby who will be deployed strategically in the area and other parts of the national capital over the next few days, they said.
Canine squads from the CISF, ITBP, Delhi Police and army are sniffing out each and every inch of the area to look for sabotage devices like IEDs and bombs.
17:12 Kashmiri artist recreates 'Kashmir Ki Kali' poster to include pellet injuries
After the the recent morphed black-and-white photographs of celebrities with wounds from pellet guns went viral, a Kashmiri cartoonist has used the iconic Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) film poster to convey the brutal effects of pellets fired by crowd-control guns.
Srinagar-based cartoonist Mir Suhail modified the poster of the blockbuster romance starring Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore to show the actress with a pellet injury in one eye. He got with the idea while watching Shah Rukh Khan defuse a bomb in Kashmir in the 2012 film Jab Tak Hai Jaan on television.
He realised the power of Bollywood and the need to present an alternative to mainstream narratives. "I thought, what would Kashmir Ki Kali look like if it had existed now?" Suhail said. "It was a kind of protest. I want to make people realise that they should view the Kashmir situation from a critical rather than a simplistic perspective."
17:05
JUST IN: At least 21 killed in power plant blast in central China
16:45 Whatever I say will be problematic: Rajan evades question on Narendra Modi
Reserve Bank's outgoing Governor Raghuram Rajan, whose outspoken views have often been seen as being critical of the government, feels whatever he will say on Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be "problematic".Rajan, whose tenure at RBI has been marked with several controversies triggered by his comments on issues ranging from tolerance debate to the government's flagship programme 'Make in India', was asked to describe Modi in a televised rapid-fire like interview with BBC.
"I think I will pass on that question. Whatever answer I give will be problematic, so I will just pass," said the on-leave professor of finance at Chicago University, who will return to academia after end of his three-year term at RBI on September 4.
After his decision to return to academia, there have been voices suggesting that his candid public speeches were one of the aspects which made the government uncomfortable about reappointing Rajan for another term.
Some of the controversial speeches made by him include the one where he quoted American political philosopher Francis Fukuyama to question whether strong governments can really help a country or in defence of tolerance in the middle of a debate started by the killing of a Muslim man over suspicion of storing beef, or questioning the premise of the high-octane 'Make in India' campaign.
Rajan, a former IMF Chief Economist, also ruled out joining politics. "I think that is one place where my wife overrides everything and her answer is 'no'," he said on joining politics.
Asked how he feels about being on the list of India's 'most desirable men', the 53-year-old Governor quipped: "I wish they had done it when I was 25."
Rajan described himself as a "boring guy" and said he being described as 'Rockstar Banker' is an "overblown" statement.
In an earlier TV interview, Rajan had said he was open to staying a bit longer at RBI to complete the unfinished work of bank clean-up, but was perfectly happy to go.
"I think I will pass on that question. Whatever answer I give will be problematic, so I will just pass," said the on-leave professor of finance at Chicago University, who will return to academia after end of his three-year term at RBI on September 4.
After his decision to return to academia, there have been voices suggesting that his candid public speeches were one of the aspects which made the government uncomfortable about reappointing Rajan for another term.
Some of the controversial speeches made by him include the one where he quoted American political philosopher Francis Fukuyama to question whether strong governments can really help a country or in defence of tolerance in the middle of a debate started by the killing of a Muslim man over suspicion of storing beef, or questioning the premise of the high-octane 'Make in India' campaign.
Rajan, a former IMF Chief Economist, also ruled out joining politics. "I think that is one place where my wife overrides everything and her answer is 'no'," he said on joining politics.
Asked how he feels about being on the list of India's 'most desirable men', the 53-year-old Governor quipped: "I wish they had done it when I was 25."
Rajan described himself as a "boring guy" and said he being described as 'Rockstar Banker' is an "overblown" statement.
In an earlier TV interview, Rajan had said he was open to staying a bit longer at RBI to complete the unfinished work of bank clean-up, but was perfectly happy to go.
16:43 Worker chants Bharat Mata Ki Jai, gets notice from Korean firm
A South Korean company, which is engaged with state-PSU Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), caused a stir after its management allegedly slapped a notice on an Indian employee for chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". KEPCO Plant Service and Engineering Company Limited, a South Korean government enterprise operating and maintaining a GMDC-run Akrimota Thermal Power Station located at Nani Chher village in Kutch district, recently issued notice to a junior engineer in which, among other disciplinary issues, the company reprimanded him for chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Ji" on one occasion.
16:39 Bill for six-month-maternity leave for working women, passed in RS
Rajya Sabha passes the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016. It provides six-month maternity leave benefit to working women.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday gave its ex-post facto approval for amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during the time of maternity and entitles them of a full paid absence from work to take care for the child. The amendment bill seeks to increase maternity leave to 26 weeks in all establishments, including private sector. The act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more persons.
The bill also provides 12 weeks leave for commissioning and adopting mothers and makes it mandatory to provide creche facility for establishment where the number of workers is 50 and above.
At present, the Maternity Benefit Act does not provide any maternity leave for commissioning or adopting mothers.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday gave its ex-post facto approval for amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during the time of maternity and entitles them of a full paid absence from work to take care for the child. The amendment bill seeks to increase maternity leave to 26 weeks in all establishments, including private sector. The act is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more persons.
The bill also provides 12 weeks leave for commissioning and adopting mothers and makes it mandatory to provide creche facility for establishment where the number of workers is 50 and above.
At present, the Maternity Benefit Act does not provide any maternity leave for commissioning or adopting mothers.
16:28 No surge pricing on Ola, Uber after August 22, rules Delhi HC
Ola, Uber and other taxi operators cannot charge more than stipulated rates after August 22, says the Delhi High Court.
With an aim to regulate app-based taxi services, the AAP government in Delhi has drafted a policy under which these cab companies will be bound to charge fares prescribed by the Transport Department.
Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain said the policy will soon be put for public's suggestions for 15-30 days and then sent to the Lt Governor for his approval.
As per the new policy, cab aggregators will not be allowed surge pricing and they will have to charge fares only through meters. The companies will also have to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in taxis being operated under their banner in view of safety of passengers especially women.
Last month, 20 unions of city's autorickshaws and yellow-black taxis had gone on an indefinite strike to demand regulation of app-based taxi services by the government, saying that their business was getting affected.
With an aim to regulate app-based taxi services, the AAP government in Delhi has drafted a policy under which these cab companies will be bound to charge fares prescribed by the Transport Department.
Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain said the policy will soon be put for public's suggestions for 15-30 days and then sent to the Lt Governor for his approval.
As per the new policy, cab aggregators will not be allowed surge pricing and they will have to charge fares only through meters. The companies will also have to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in taxis being operated under their banner in view of safety of passengers especially women.
Last month, 20 unions of city's autorickshaws and yellow-black taxis had gone on an indefinite strike to demand regulation of app-based taxi services by the government, saying that their business was getting affected.
16:20 Jersey problems solved, Indian boxers won't be disqualified, says coach
Just in: Indian boxers don't run the risk of disqualification from Rio Olympic; kit problems sorted out, says coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) pulls up Indian boxers for not having 'India' written on their jerseys.
Indian boxers Vikas Krishan , Manoj Kumar and Shiva Thapa now face a risk of being disqualified at the Rio Olympics, reports ABP News.
It is a statutory requirement in Olympics to have the name of the country the sportsperson is representing to be emblazoned on the blazer. Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has a bout at 11am Brazilian time and he will not be allowed to fight without the name of country at the back of his jersey.
This was informed to him after Manoj Kumar turned up for his bout, that "no Indian boxer will be allowed after this'.
Image: Boxer Vikas Krishnan
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) pulls up Indian boxers for not having 'India' written on their jerseys.
Indian boxers Vikas Krishan , Manoj Kumar and Shiva Thapa now face a risk of being disqualified at the Rio Olympics, reports ABP News.
It is a statutory requirement in Olympics to have the name of the country the sportsperson is representing to be emblazoned on the blazer. Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has a bout at 11am Brazilian time and he will not be allowed to fight without the name of country at the back of his jersey.
This was informed to him after Manoj Kumar turned up for his bout, that "no Indian boxer will be allowed after this'.
Image: Boxer Vikas Krishnan
16:00 300 Heathrow staff have passes suspended amid security scam probe
Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into a scam involving airside security passes at Healthrow Airport.Three hundred staff working for Sodexo, which supplies airline lounge services have had their passes suspended, Sky News reports. Read more
15:44 Disqualification looms large over Indian boxers at Rio Olympics
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) pulls up Indian boxers for not having 'India' written on their jerseys.
Indian boxers Vikas Krishan , Manoj Kumar and Shiva Thapa now face a risk of being disqualified at the Rio Olympics, reports ABP News.
It is a statutory requirement in Olympics to have the name of the country the sportsperson is representing to be emblazoned on the blazer. Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has a bout at 11am Brazilian time and he will not be allowed to fight without the name of country at the back of his jersey.
This was informed to him after Manoj Kumar turned up for his bout, that "no Indian boxer will be allowed after this'.
This means Thapa has just 10 hours to get a new jersey made in order to avoid getting disqualified. The Indian contingent is now scurrying around to get the jersey inked.
When Thapa team should have been focussing on his upcoming match, this is a needless worry he has to contend with.
Indian boxers Vikas Krishan , Manoj Kumar and Shiva Thapa now face a risk of being disqualified at the Rio Olympics, reports ABP News.
It is a statutory requirement in Olympics to have the name of the country the sportsperson is representing to be emblazoned on the blazer. Indian boxer Shiva Thapa has a bout at 11am Brazilian time and he will not be allowed to fight without the name of country at the back of his jersey.
This was informed to him after Manoj Kumar turned up for his bout, that "no Indian boxer will be allowed after this'.
This means Thapa has just 10 hours to get a new jersey made in order to avoid getting disqualified. The Indian contingent is now scurrying around to get the jersey inked.
When Thapa team should have been focussing on his upcoming match, this is a needless worry he has to contend with.
15:28 Govt scraps vernacular news bulletins on AIR
The government has decided to stop all All India Radio vernacular news bulletins except English, Hindi and Kashmiri due to lack of funds.
15:25 People want to look like 'know it all': Sushant on De's remark
Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who plays Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his upcoming biopic, today took a jibe at author Shobhaa De for her comments on Indian Olympians at Rio. De had mocked Indian athletes, saying that their aim was only to click selfies and return without any medal. Her tweet angered many who slammed and trolled the writer.
When asked about his take on the author's tweet, Sushant told reporters here, "People have a strong opinion just because they want to come across as somebody who knows everything."
When asked about his take on the author's tweet, Sushant told reporters here, "People have a strong opinion just because they want to come across as somebody who knows everything."
15:17 Pak legendary cricketer Hanif Mohammad alive, lost heartbeat for 6 minutes
Hanif Mohammad returned to life after losing his heartbeat for six minutes as he battled for life at a hospital in Karachi. Regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world, Hanif has been battling with respiratory problems recently and had been admitted to the hospital a month back. He was later shifted to the ventilator at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi.
Earlier it was widely reported that Hanif had passed away at 81 at the Hospital. His son, Test player, Shoaib Mohammad, had said that Hanif's condition had deteriorated since Sunday forcing him to be put on the ventilator. "He is now on a ventilator and in intensive care unit (ICU). He is facing respiratory complications due to his lung cancer," Shoaib had said.
Hanif, nicknamed 'The Little Master' and was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. Then he received treatment in London and returned home well. But Shoaib said the cancer had spread with time.
Earlier it was widely reported that Hanif had passed away at 81 at the Hospital. His son, Test player, Shoaib Mohammad, had said that Hanif's condition had deteriorated since Sunday forcing him to be put on the ventilator. "He is now on a ventilator and in intensive care unit (ICU). He is facing respiratory complications due to his lung cancer," Shoaib had said.
Hanif, nicknamed 'The Little Master' and was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013. Then he received treatment in London and returned home well. But Shoaib said the cancer had spread with time.
14:57 4 booklets 'written' by Kalikho Pul found
Four booklets reportedly written by former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, who allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday last, have been found in his room and handed over to police.
"We have not read the booklets so it cannot be assumed as suicide note. There was no diary found from the spot as has been reported earlier. Police have already registered a case and it is under investigation," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Talo Potom, who conducted the inquest, told reporters here today.
The four 60-page booklets, titled 'Mere Vichaar' (My Thoughts), allegedly signed by Pul, were found in the room where Pul was found dead, the ADM said. Potom said he had sealed the documents and handed it over to police.
"I was only ordered to conduct inquest by the District Magistrate under Section 176 of the CrPc," he said. The ADM said four mobile handsets and one tablet were also found and handed over to police. Principal Secretary (Home) Satya Gopal said that an inquiry would be carried out.
"We have not read the booklets so it cannot be assumed as suicide note. There was no diary found from the spot as has been reported earlier. Police have already registered a case and it is under investigation," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Talo Potom, who conducted the inquest, told reporters here today.
The four 60-page booklets, titled 'Mere Vichaar' (My Thoughts), allegedly signed by Pul, were found in the room where Pul was found dead, the ADM said. Potom said he had sealed the documents and handed it over to police.
"I was only ordered to conduct inquest by the District Magistrate under Section 176 of the CrPc," he said. The ADM said four mobile handsets and one tablet were also found and handed over to police. Principal Secretary (Home) Satya Gopal said that an inquiry would be carried out.
14:40 Awww! Sushma Swaraj's husband drops in to meet her in Parliament
EAM Sushma Swaraj who is easily the most popular of PM Narendra Modi's ministers and has a mammoth fan following on Twitter, posted this lovely picture today with her husband Swaraj Kaushal. She writes, "Together after many years - a chance meeting with @governorswaraj at the Parliament House gate today. We were in Rajya Sabha together from 2000 -2004. He was a member of Rajya Sabha from 1998-2004. I was in Lok Sabha. Then I came to Rajya Sabha in 2000."
In the picture a beaming Sushma Swaraj and her husband link hands while Congress MP Digvijaya Singh and BJP MP Vinay Katiyar look on.
Swaraj Kaushal is a senior advocate and a criminal lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court. He has the distinction of being India's youngest ever Governor of a State at 37 years of age.
The foreign affairs minister has time and time again offered her assistance to those who've reached out to her on Twitter including people with faulty refrigerators and cars.
In the picture a beaming Sushma Swaraj and her husband link hands while Congress MP Digvijaya Singh and BJP MP Vinay Katiyar look on.
Swaraj Kaushal is a senior advocate and a criminal lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court. He has the distinction of being India's youngest ever Governor of a State at 37 years of age.
The foreign affairs minister has time and time again offered her assistance to those who've reached out to her on Twitter including people with faulty refrigerators and cars.
14:14 Reward for people for taking accident victims to hospital
As the apathy of people to road accident victims was exposed again after a security guard bled to death in west Delhi, the city government today said it will soon announce a scheme under which people, including drivers of taxis and autorickshaws, will be rewarded for taking victims to hospital. Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said that the government has prepared a draft of the scheme where an incentive will be announced to ensure immediate help to road accident victims in the national capital.
The draft will be tabled in the Cabinet by the end of this month and then sent to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval. The government's move comes a day after a 35-year-old security guard died on road after being hit by a speeding delivery van in West Delhi's Subhash Nagar area, with no passerby coming to his help for an hour while a rickshaw puller stole the victim's mobile phone.
The whole incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed near Meraj cinema in Subhash Nagar where the victim Matibul was hit by a delivery van in the wee hours.
"It is very unfortunate that no one come to assist him. Government has prepared an incentive scheme under which people including drivers of taxi and auto, taking road accident victims to hospital will be rewarded," the Home Minister said.
He also said that a Cabinet note has been prepared in this regard. The proposal of the scheme will soon be tabled in the Delhi Cabinet by the end of this month and subsequently, it will be sent to the Lt Governor for his final approval to implement the scheme in the national capital. Jain said that usually people don't take road accident victims to nearest hospital fearing that they may be questioned by the police.
"There is also a Supreme Court directive that such people who help accidet victims cannot be harassed or questioned. I appeal to people to help them as it is a pious task to save someone's life," he said.
The draft will be tabled in the Cabinet by the end of this month and then sent to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval. The government's move comes a day after a 35-year-old security guard died on road after being hit by a speeding delivery van in West Delhi's Subhash Nagar area, with no passerby coming to his help for an hour while a rickshaw puller stole the victim's mobile phone.
The whole incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed near Meraj cinema in Subhash Nagar where the victim Matibul was hit by a delivery van in the wee hours.
"It is very unfortunate that no one come to assist him. Government has prepared an incentive scheme under which people including drivers of taxi and auto, taking road accident victims to hospital will be rewarded," the Home Minister said.
He also said that a Cabinet note has been prepared in this regard. The proposal of the scheme will soon be tabled in the Delhi Cabinet by the end of this month and subsequently, it will be sent to the Lt Governor for his final approval to implement the scheme in the national capital. Jain said that usually people don't take road accident victims to nearest hospital fearing that they may be questioned by the police.
"There is also a Supreme Court directive that such people who help accidet victims cannot be harassed or questioned. I appeal to people to help them as it is a pious task to save someone's life," he said.
13:46 Shocking! Hit-and-run victim bleeds to death, passerby steals phone
At 5:30 am in New Delhi's Subhash Nagar yesterday, 40-year-old Matibool was walking home after a night shift, when a speeding tempo hit him.
Matibool was thrown in the air, he hit a lamp post, lost consciousness and lay bleeding.
CCTV footage shows the driver of the tempo stopped, looked up and down the road, checked his phone and inspected his tempo for damage and drove off after a last look at his victim to make sure the man was still alive.
Matibool bled to death.
No one tried to help even though there were many passersby.
In fact, a cycle rickshaw driver is seen on CCTV footage picking up Matibool's mobile phone and walking off.
Finally, a team of policemen arrived around 7 am and took him to hospital. But doctors said that Matibool had already died of excessive bleeding.
CCTV images of the incident chronicle the staggering lack of compassion often ascribed to New Delhi, but true of much of India.
Matibool is a father of two.
Matibool was thrown in the air, he hit a lamp post, lost consciousness and lay bleeding.
CCTV footage shows the driver of the tempo stopped, looked up and down the road, checked his phone and inspected his tempo for damage and drove off after a last look at his victim to make sure the man was still alive.
Matibool bled to death.
No one tried to help even though there were many passersby.
In fact, a cycle rickshaw driver is seen on CCTV footage picking up Matibool's mobile phone and walking off.
Finally, a team of policemen arrived around 7 am and took him to hospital. But doctors said that Matibool had already died of excessive bleeding.
CCTV images of the incident chronicle the staggering lack of compassion often ascribed to New Delhi, but true of much of India.
Matibool is a father of two.
13:07 Read this Indian cops
Four officers cooked pasta for a lonely old couple whose sounds of distress were overhead in their home, Rome's police department said.
Authorities were alerted after cries were reported from an apartment in the city, but officers found the occupants had not been the victim of any crime. Jole, 89, and her husband Michele, 94, explained that nobody had visited them in months and that they had been upset by something they had seen on the television news, the police department said in a poetic update on its Facebook page on Friday. Read more
Authorities were alerted after cries were reported from an apartment in the city, but officers found the occupants had not been the victim of any crime. Jole, 89, and her husband Michele, 94, explained that nobody had visited them in months and that they had been upset by something they had seen on the television news, the police department said in a poetic update on its Facebook page on Friday. Read more
12:47
RS adjourns again till 2 pm as Samajwadi Party uproar over alleged discrimination against UP by Modi govt continues.
12:47 Malayalam superstar Suresh Gopi presents first report in RS
A lighter moment in Parliament as it battles Kashmir and Dalits...
Popular Malayalam filmstar Suresh Gopi today briefly hogged limelight in the Rajya Sabha as he presented his maiden parliamentary report and Deputy Chairman P J Kurien complimented him.
When Kurien called Meghraj Jain (BJP) to present the reports of the department-related standing committee on information technology, the BJP leader said his co-member on the panel, Suresh Gopi, will present it.
As Gopi, who was BJP's star campaigner and nominated to the Upper House in April, rose to lay the report on the table of the House, Kurien said it was Malayalam actor's maiden report presentation.
"I have seen you acting in films. This is first time I am seeing you present a report in the House," he remarked. "Wish you best of luck," he said, as members thumped desks to welcome him.
Popular Malayalam filmstar Suresh Gopi today briefly hogged limelight in the Rajya Sabha as he presented his maiden parliamentary report and Deputy Chairman P J Kurien complimented him.
When Kurien called Meghraj Jain (BJP) to present the reports of the department-related standing committee on information technology, the BJP leader said his co-member on the panel, Suresh Gopi, will present it.
As Gopi, who was BJP's star campaigner and nominated to the Upper House in April, rose to lay the report on the table of the House, Kurien said it was Malayalam actor's maiden report presentation.
"I have seen you acting in films. This is first time I am seeing you present a report in the House," he remarked. "Wish you best of luck," he said, as members thumped desks to welcome him.
12:29
Judgment on JNU student union leader Kanhaiya's bail cancellation at 2pm in the Delhi high court.
12:26 Every 15 minutes, a car is stolen or snatched in Delhi
Every 15 minutes, a car in Delhi is either stolen or snatched. According to recent data, nearly 100 vehicles were reportedly stolen on each day of last month.
A police study shows that the number vehicles stolen this year is double the figure registered in the whole of 2011.
Officers also say that there's been a 13% drop in the number of vehicles recovered. But they say that the spurt in the numbers is due to the increase in vehicle numbers and lack of parking space.
The study finds one-sixth of the thefts are reported from east Delhi.
Read more HERE
12:17 If PM can speak on Dalits outside, he can do so in Parliament as well: Maya
BSP chief Mayawati today demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in Parliament on the issue of atrocities on Dalits.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the recent statements of the Prime Minister on Dalits were an exercise in "damage control".
Ahead of UP elections and polls in some other states, there have been incidents like the Rohith Vemula episode, the Una attack on youths and other atrocities which have affected BJP's image with regard to dalits, Mayawati claimed.
"Our party wants that rather than expressing sympathy with Dalits, the PM should focus on acting against those who commit atrocities against them," the BSP chief said.
She also demanded that Modi should speak on the issue in Parliament. "If he can speak on it outside, he can also say it in the House," she said.
12:06 IIT-R senate to decide fate of expelled students today
The IIT-Roorkee senate will today meet to take a relook at the decision to expel 10 first-year BTech students for scoring less than five CGPA.
The decision for a relook follows a request to this effect from the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. The senate includes director, deputy director, professors, representatives of employees, among others as members.
Director of IIT Roorkee Pradipta Bannerjee said it is up to the senate to approve or disapprove of the idea to take back the expelled students.
Political motives are being ascribed to the MHRD's communication to the IIT administration as all of these students belong to either SC, ST or OBC categories.
When asked whether it was not an instance of political interference with the institute's autonomy, Bannerjee said it would have been so if it was an order but "it is just a request and the senate is at liberty to accept it or turn it down".
As per IIT rules, if a student fails to get a minimum CGPA of five they have to be expelled.
11:57 Interim protection for expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa
Just in: Delhi High Court gives interim protection to Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa and two others till 22nd August. Yesterday, police registered an FIR against expelled the AIADMK MP and her family members on a complaint filed by her maid. The maid filed a sexual harassment case against Pushpa and her family members (husband, mother and son).
On August 1, Sasikala was expelled from the AIADMK by its general secretary, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after she reportedly slapped DMK MP Trichy Siva at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Sasikala had broken down in the Rajya Sabha just minutes before Jayalalithaa announced her ouster, and had said she was facing a "life threat" and that she was being forced to resign.
On August 1, Sasikala was expelled from the AIADMK by its general secretary, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after she reportedly slapped DMK MP Trichy Siva at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Sasikala had broken down in the Rajya Sabha just minutes before Jayalalithaa announced her ouster, and had said she was facing a "life threat" and that she was being forced to resign.
11:32 Air India pilot fails alcohol test after hitting the ground
A senior Air India pilot was caught drunk after having operated an international flight on Wednesday, in a rare incident in India's aviation history where a pilot was tested positive for alcohol in a post-flight medical test.
The pilot turned out to be a repeat offender having failed a pre-flight alcohol test earlier.
Taking a serious view of the repeated violation by the same pilot, the flight safety department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended the pilot for four years instead of the usual three-year suspension handed out in such cases.
"Failing the post-flight medical test as compared to a preflight test is a 'grave safety violation' as the pilot has operated a flight with passengers on-board under the influence of alcohol," a DGCA source said. "There cannot be any leniency in such cases."
Read more HERE
11:23 Bengaluru: Pathankot heros kin distraught as portion of house comes under demolition list
With the ongoing demolition drive by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for encroachment on storm water drains in Bengaluru, a portion of the house of NSG commando Niranjan Kumar, who was killed during the Pathankot terror attack in January, has also come under its demolition list.
Niranjans brother Shashank asserted that it is definitely not a good thing and a shame to the country to see a national heros house being demolished.
It is very hard for us to digest this because we have lost our brother in Pathankot attack and now we are seeing the house is being demolished. And it is not a good thing to see our national heros house being demolished. I would request to stop this demolition for good purpose because Niranjan has died for the country and if is going to happen this way then it is a shame for the country, Shashank told reporters in Bengaluru.
He said that the BBMP officials have marked for demolition for one of the three pillars on which the house is standing.
For past 20 years we are here and now suddenly they are coming and telling stories without any prior notice. This is going to affect our family and it is going to become a national issue. If we would have got any prior notice then we would have done something about it. It is a shame for the country. It is up to the government to look into the matter and move forward, he added.
Meanwhile, BBMP continued with its encroachment clearance drive and marked many more buildings for demolition in Vidyaranyapura. It had identified and marked properties at Yelahanka, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura and Yeshwantpur. The residents of these areas have strongly criticised the BBMP officials for asking them to make alternative arrangements.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered action against 20 government officials for their involvement in encroachment of storm water drains in the city.
Niranjans brother Shashank asserted that it is definitely not a good thing and a shame to the country to see a national heros house being demolished.
It is very hard for us to digest this because we have lost our brother in Pathankot attack and now we are seeing the house is being demolished. And it is not a good thing to see our national heros house being demolished. I would request to stop this demolition for good purpose because Niranjan has died for the country and if is going to happen this way then it is a shame for the country, Shashank told reporters in Bengaluru.
He said that the BBMP officials have marked for demolition for one of the three pillars on which the house is standing.
For past 20 years we are here and now suddenly they are coming and telling stories without any prior notice. This is going to affect our family and it is going to become a national issue. If we would have got any prior notice then we would have done something about it. It is a shame for the country. It is up to the government to look into the matter and move forward, he added.
Meanwhile, BBMP continued with its encroachment clearance drive and marked many more buildings for demolition in Vidyaranyapura. It had identified and marked properties at Yelahanka, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura and Yeshwantpur. The residents of these areas have strongly criticised the BBMP officials for asking them to make alternative arrangements.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered action against 20 government officials for their involvement in encroachment of storm water drains in the city.
11:06 Wreckage of both buses washed away in Mahad bridge collapse found
Just in: Nine days after the horrific collapse of a bridge in Mahad over the Savitri River, one of the two buses which fell into the river has been found.
"After a long search for the last eight days, the Naval teams have located two bus wreckages submerged in the water at Mahad," the Defence PRO said. "The two wreckages seem to be parts of busses and were found approximately 170 and 200 meters from the collapsed bridge. Despite the current and the presence of crocodiles in River Savitri, the naval divers found the wreckage after eight days of sustained effort," the Defence PRO said.
Rescue personnel have so far found 26 bodies during the search and rescue operations launched a day after the two State Transport buses and some other vehicles fell into the swollen river after the bridge collapse on the night of August 2.
The NDRF, Navy and Coast Guard, have pooled in their resources for the search and rescue operation. Two days ago as the flow of flood water receded search operations were intensified near the collapsed bridge.
An NDRF team said it would not call off their operation till they get orders from higher authorities. "We would try to reach as near as possible to the site of collapsed bridge this afternoon to be doubly sure that there are no vehicles stuck near the bridge," NDRF's 5th battalion commandant Anupam Srivastava said.
The NDRF, Navy and Coast Guard officials had so far been able to locate only a signboard of one of the missing State Transport buses bearing the word 'reserved' on it. Srivastava said they are using various advance techniques, including electronic sensors, fish finders (sonar devices), and massive magnets to trace the metal bodies of the vehicles in the water.
"After a long search for the last eight days, the Naval teams have located two bus wreckages submerged in the water at Mahad," the Defence PRO said. "The two wreckages seem to be parts of busses and were found approximately 170 and 200 meters from the collapsed bridge. Despite the current and the presence of crocodiles in River Savitri, the naval divers found the wreckage after eight days of sustained effort," the Defence PRO said.
Rescue personnel have so far found 26 bodies during the search and rescue operations launched a day after the two State Transport buses and some other vehicles fell into the swollen river after the bridge collapse on the night of August 2.
The NDRF, Navy and Coast Guard, have pooled in their resources for the search and rescue operation. Two days ago as the flow of flood water receded search operations were intensified near the collapsed bridge.
An NDRF team said it would not call off their operation till they get orders from higher authorities. "We would try to reach as near as possible to the site of collapsed bridge this afternoon to be doubly sure that there are no vehicles stuck near the bridge," NDRF's 5th battalion commandant Anupam Srivastava said.
The NDRF, Navy and Coast Guard officials had so far been able to locate only a signboard of one of the missing State Transport buses bearing the word 'reserved' on it. Srivastava said they are using various advance techniques, including electronic sensors, fish finders (sonar devices), and massive magnets to trace the metal bodies of the vehicles in the water.
10:40 Rain wipes out tennis, threatens Nadal triple gold bid
Torrential rain wiped out the entire 25-match tennis programme at the Olympics on Wednesday, threatening to scupper Rafael Nadal's triple gold medal assault. Among the matches cancelled were all three due to feature Nadal who is still in the singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles.
The 30-year-old Spaniard is playing his first tournament in two months after being forced to quit the French Open with a left wrist injury. He has already played five matches in three days in Rio and on Wednesday had been due to tackle France's Gilles Simon for a place in the men's quarter-finals.
The 30-year-old Spaniard is playing his first tournament in two months after being forced to quit the French Open with a left wrist injury. He has already played five matches in three days in Rio and on Wednesday had been due to tackle France's Gilles Simon for a place in the men's quarter-finals.
10:27 India looks up to shuttlers, boxers to provide spark
The shuttlers led by Saina Nehwal will make their first appearance in the Olympic Games here today along with men golfers as India still waits for its first medal after five days of fruitless labour in this Brazilian city.
All seven shuttlers, three in singles and the rest in doubles, will play their first round matches today while golfers Anirban Lahiri and S P Chawrasia would battle their opponents as well as weather and course conditions on day one of the stroke-play golf competition that gets underway.
Saina, India's first-ever medal winner in badminton four years ago in London, should have little trouble in disposing off her Brazilian rival Lohaynny Vicente while the other shuttler in women's singles, P V Sindhu, too would be fancying her chances against Hungary's Laura Sarosi. K Srikanth, in men's singles, B S Reddy and Manu Attri (men's doubles) and Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa (women's doubles) would also be seen on the court.
Archer Laishram Bombayla Devi takes on Mexico's Alejandra Valencia in her pre-quarterfinal clash, the men's hockey squad would be up against the might of The Netherlands in their fourth pool game while boxer Shiva Thapa would match mitts with Cuba's R Ramirez in round two of 56 kg competition. In tennis, Sania Mirza teams up with Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles first round clash against the Australian pair of Samantha Stosur and Jimmy Peers.
All seven shuttlers, three in singles and the rest in doubles, will play their first round matches today while golfers Anirban Lahiri and S P Chawrasia would battle their opponents as well as weather and course conditions on day one of the stroke-play golf competition that gets underway.
Saina, India's first-ever medal winner in badminton four years ago in London, should have little trouble in disposing off her Brazilian rival Lohaynny Vicente while the other shuttler in women's singles, P V Sindhu, too would be fancying her chances against Hungary's Laura Sarosi. K Srikanth, in men's singles, B S Reddy and Manu Attri (men's doubles) and Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa (women's doubles) would also be seen on the court.
Archer Laishram Bombayla Devi takes on Mexico's Alejandra Valencia in her pre-quarterfinal clash, the men's hockey squad would be up against the might of The Netherlands in their fourth pool game while boxer Shiva Thapa would match mitts with Cuba's R Ramirez in round two of 56 kg competition. In tennis, Sania Mirza teams up with Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles first round clash against the Australian pair of Samantha Stosur and Jimmy Peers.
10:15 Attacks on me abominable, was open to extension at RBI: Rajan
While on Swamy, read this piece on his bete noire Raghuram Rajan, if you already haven't.
Outgoing RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday that he was open to staying a bit longer to complete the unfinished work of bank clean up, but is perfectly happy to go.
Rajan, who had in June decided against seeking a second term once his 3-year tenure ends next month, said the process of dialogue with the government did not reach a stage where he could have agreed to stay on.
He said he was however never worried about reappointment or a future career in government, and did the best in the interest of the country, adding he was the "best team player".
Rajan, who plans to return to academia after his term ends on September 4, said his stays at university made him "pretty thick-skinned", but the attacks then were not abominable.
"Some of these (recent) attacks were abominable, that is imputing sort of motives, alleging things completely without any basis," he told CNBC-TV18, adding that he put them aside and did not pay any attention to them.
Towards the end of his three-year tenure, Rajan faced personal attacks from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy who had alleged that the former IMF chief economist was not "mentally not fully Indian" and had sent confidential and sensitive financial information abroad.
Rajan said when people asked him if he was open to the second term, he said that although he had structured all his initiatives at RBI with a three-year horizon, there was some unfinished work like PSU banks' balance sheet clean-up and setting up of monetary policy committee framework.
"That does not mean in any way, that I was absolutely hell-bent on having a second term," he said. "I was open for staying a little while longer to see them complete, but at the same time I was perfectly happy to go."
Rajan said 90% to 95% of the job that he had taken on was complete and he had absolute freedom in doing his work.
On his future plans, he said: "I have said again and again, I am fundamentally an academician. This (RBI governor) is my side job".
Outgoing RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday that he was open to staying a bit longer to complete the unfinished work of bank clean up, but is perfectly happy to go.
Rajan, who had in June decided against seeking a second term once his 3-year tenure ends next month, said the process of dialogue with the government did not reach a stage where he could have agreed to stay on.
He said he was however never worried about reappointment or a future career in government, and did the best in the interest of the country, adding he was the "best team player".
Rajan, who plans to return to academia after his term ends on September 4, said his stays at university made him "pretty thick-skinned", but the attacks then were not abominable.
"Some of these (recent) attacks were abominable, that is imputing sort of motives, alleging things completely without any basis," he told CNBC-TV18, adding that he put them aside and did not pay any attention to them.
Towards the end of his three-year tenure, Rajan faced personal attacks from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy who had alleged that the former IMF chief economist was not "mentally not fully Indian" and had sent confidential and sensitive financial information abroad.
Rajan said when people asked him if he was open to the second term, he said that although he had structured all his initiatives at RBI with a three-year horizon, there was some unfinished work like PSU banks' balance sheet clean-up and setting up of monetary policy committee framework.
"That does not mean in any way, that I was absolutely hell-bent on having a second term," he said. "I was open for staying a little while longer to see them complete, but at the same time I was perfectly happy to go."
Rajan said 90% to 95% of the job that he had taken on was complete and he had absolute freedom in doing his work.
On his future plans, he said: "I have said again and again, I am fundamentally an academician. This (RBI governor) is my side job".
10:06 Review UPA's amendments to GST, Swamy writes to PM Modi
Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to review the UPA government's decision to outsource data management and computation of tax share to a private entity, reports India Today.
In his letter to the PM, Swamy said that this was a swift and secret move on the part of the previous government to hand over this sensitive task to a private entity. He pointed out that the UPA government had set up the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) to manage and control the tax collection and accounting of the GST.
"The Centre and the state governments have only 49 per cent stake in the GSTN. If GSTN is a non-profit organisation, then why should private profit-making entities have any stake, that too a majority one," the MP asked.
Neither the home minister was consulted nor his permission sought before handing over such sensitive task to the private entity, he added.
Swamy's stance on the GSTN was evident by his silence during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, thought he did privately object to the bill. Bound by the party whip, he did vote in favour of the amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Questioning the rationale for handing over data management and computation of tax collection, Swamy pointed out that the most significant player in the tax collection efforts are the central and state governments, and others issues like adjusting the percentage of GST for various states is "merely a matter of programming which could bear done by the government through its department of Electronics" .
Although Swamy's objection is apparently to the previous government's decision, however, the situation once again puts him at odds with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The finance minister had earlier defended the UPA government in the course of his speech on the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha, in response to similar objections raised by TMC MP Saugata Roy.
In his letter to the PM, Swamy said that this was a swift and secret move on the part of the previous government to hand over this sensitive task to a private entity. He pointed out that the UPA government had set up the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) to manage and control the tax collection and accounting of the GST.
"The Centre and the state governments have only 49 per cent stake in the GSTN. If GSTN is a non-profit organisation, then why should private profit-making entities have any stake, that too a majority one," the MP asked.
Neither the home minister was consulted nor his permission sought before handing over such sensitive task to the private entity, he added.
Swamy's stance on the GSTN was evident by his silence during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, thought he did privately object to the bill. Bound by the party whip, he did vote in favour of the amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Questioning the rationale for handing over data management and computation of tax collection, Swamy pointed out that the most significant player in the tax collection efforts are the central and state governments, and others issues like adjusting the percentage of GST for various states is "merely a matter of programming which could bear done by the government through its department of Electronics" .
Although Swamy's objection is apparently to the previous government's decision, however, the situation once again puts him at odds with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The finance minister had earlier defended the UPA government in the course of his speech on the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha, in response to similar objections raised by TMC MP Saugata Roy.
09:46 Life after Brexit
Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973 when it comprised eight members and there was no political project of "ever closer union". The enthusiasm for more integration may now diminish but the recent past has revealed the European Union leadership at its worst; the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the split with Britain was "not an amicable divorce... there is no democratic choice against the European treaties", echoing the Brussels propensity to hold successive referenda "until they get it right" - twice in Denmark in 1992 and 1993, and twice in Ireland in 2001 and 2002. In 2005, the French rejected the Constitution, which was later finessed by the Lisbon Treaty and change of president. Read more
09:43 Nepal's quake-damaged museums re-open: UNESCO
More than a year after the devastating earthquakes struck Nepal, some of the country's famous museums and institutions have once again opened to visitors as a result of combined work of the UN's cultural agency and its partners, a top UN official has said.
"The rehabilitation of Nepal's museums and historical buildings following the 2015 earthquake has a deep, positive impact on the economic and social development of the country," said Christian Manhart, Director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Kathmandu.
"There is a tremendous sense of identity, determination and hope that comes with the reopening of museums and the restoration of temples," Manhart said.
The April 2015 earthquake and series of aftershocks killed more than 8,700 people, injured more than 22,000, and destroyed or damaged more than 250,000 houses.
The disaster also badly affected the landlocked country's cultural and natural heritage as 691 historic buildings in 16 districts were damaged, of which 131 fully collapsed. In the months after the earthquake, UNESCO joined the country's Department of Archaeology in salvaging, inventorying and ensuring the safe-storage of artefacts and other architectural features in several impacted sites and museums including the capital's Hanumandhoka, Swayambhu and Chhauni National Museum.
"The rehabilitation of Nepal's museums and historical buildings following the 2015 earthquake has a deep, positive impact on the economic and social development of the country," said Christian Manhart, Director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Kathmandu.
"There is a tremendous sense of identity, determination and hope that comes with the reopening of museums and the restoration of temples," Manhart said.
The April 2015 earthquake and series of aftershocks killed more than 8,700 people, injured more than 22,000, and destroyed or damaged more than 250,000 houses.
The disaster also badly affected the landlocked country's cultural and natural heritage as 691 historic buildings in 16 districts were damaged, of which 131 fully collapsed. In the months after the earthquake, UNESCO joined the country's Department of Archaeology in salvaging, inventorying and ensuring the safe-storage of artefacts and other architectural features in several impacted sites and museums including the capital's Hanumandhoka, Swayambhu and Chhauni National Museum.
09:29 The REAL reason why Sania-Martina split
Martina Hingis who parted ways with Sania Mirza has explained why the winning partnership ended in an Instagram post. Their astonishing partnership earned them nine titles, including the WTA Finals, last year.
Hingis who posted this on Instagram, writes on behalf of Sania as well. "After three Grand Slam victories and eleven WTA doubles titles together, we have mutually agreed that we would each be open to playing with other players for the remainder of the season. Perhaps, because of our great past results, we have had very high expectations from our partnership and unfortunately did not get the results we desired recently. We would like to clarify that it was a totally professional decision based purely on our recent results. The professional decision has not and will not in any way affect the wonderful personal relationship that we continue to share. We also look forward to defending our title in the year-end WTA Finals in Singapore in October for which Santina has already qualified.We hope that this puts to rest some of the fabricated stories that have been doing the rounds in some sections of the media.
Best Sania and Martina"
The Indian tennis ace and the Swiss began their partnership last March with a bang, winning three titles on the trot -- at Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston. Sania and Martina took the number one team ranking when they won the Charleston event, the Indian becoming the top-ranked individual.
The Hyderabadi also bagged her first women's doubles Grand Slam title by winning at Wimbledon in the company of Martina. Later, the pair also won the 2015 US Open.
Sania will now team up with world No 21 Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic while Martina has teamed up with Coco Vandeweghe of the United States.
Sania's partnership with Barbora will commence at the Cincinnati event, while she will play with former partner Bethanie-Mattek Sands of the US at New Haven before again uniting with the Czech at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season.
"It was question of availability and also Barbora Strycova has a good backhand, so they also compliment game wise," the source added, when asked about the choice.
Sania and Martina carried their red hot form into the 2016 season by winning four events on the trot, including the Australia Open, their third Grand Slam together. They put together an incredible 41 match-winning streak which ended this year in February at Doha where they lost to Russians Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina. However, for a world number one pair, the results in the last five months have not been encouraging. After winning four titles at the start of the season, they won only one, at Rome, after that in three finals.
Hingis who posted this on Instagram, writes on behalf of Sania as well. "After three Grand Slam victories and eleven WTA doubles titles together, we have mutually agreed that we would each be open to playing with other players for the remainder of the season. Perhaps, because of our great past results, we have had very high expectations from our partnership and unfortunately did not get the results we desired recently. We would like to clarify that it was a totally professional decision based purely on our recent results. The professional decision has not and will not in any way affect the wonderful personal relationship that we continue to share. We also look forward to defending our title in the year-end WTA Finals in Singapore in October for which Santina has already qualified.We hope that this puts to rest some of the fabricated stories that have been doing the rounds in some sections of the media.
Best Sania and Martina"
The Indian tennis ace and the Swiss began their partnership last March with a bang, winning three titles on the trot -- at Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston. Sania and Martina took the number one team ranking when they won the Charleston event, the Indian becoming the top-ranked individual.
The Hyderabadi also bagged her first women's doubles Grand Slam title by winning at Wimbledon in the company of Martina. Later, the pair also won the 2015 US Open.
Sania will now team up with world No 21 Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic while Martina has teamed up with Coco Vandeweghe of the United States.
Sania's partnership with Barbora will commence at the Cincinnati event, while she will play with former partner Bethanie-Mattek Sands of the US at New Haven before again uniting with the Czech at the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season.
"It was question of availability and also Barbora Strycova has a good backhand, so they also compliment game wise," the source added, when asked about the choice.
Sania and Martina carried their red hot form into the 2016 season by winning four events on the trot, including the Australia Open, their third Grand Slam together. They put together an incredible 41 match-winning streak which ended this year in February at Doha where they lost to Russians Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina. However, for a world number one pair, the results in the last five months have not been encouraging. After winning four titles at the start of the season, they won only one, at Rome, after that in three finals.
09:15 Irom Sharmila to wed only if voters reject her
Renowned civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, who ended her 16-yearlong hunger strike against AFSPA on Tuesday, said she would only get married if people reject her fresh innings as a politician. Sharmila had recently announced her desire to end the strike in order to contest next year's Manipur assembly elections and get married. Read more
08:50 Canadian police kill suspect after terror tip-off
Canadian police kill suspect after receiving tip-off of terror threat, news channels report.
Canadian federal police earlier said they had arrested a suspect who posed a "potential terrorist threat," after receiving a tip about an imminent attack.
Broadcaster CTV, citing internal government documents, however, said the suspect was linked to the Islamic State group and planned to set off an explosive device in a packed public space in a major city.
Canada was the target of two separate lone wolf attacks in October 2014 in Quebec and Ottawa that resulted in the death of two soldiers.
In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Montreal, a young man drove his car into two soldiers in a parking lot, killing one of them before being shot dead by police after a short chase.
Two days later on October 22, an attacker gunned down a ceremonial military guard and stormed parliament before being killed by security guards only meters (yards) from a room where the prime minister and his caucus were meeting.
08:49 3rd gold for Katie Ledecky as US wins 4x200 freestyle relay
Bethesda swimming phenom Katie Ledecky picked up her fourth medal in Rio, as the United States defended its Olympic title in the 4x200 freestyle relay event.
08:12 Indian shuttlers begin Olympic campaign today
Four years after a bronze at London Games made her the toast of the nation, Saina Nehwal will once again carry a billion hopes when she along with the other six shuttlers, including doubles exponent Jwala Gutta, begin their campaign at the Rio Olympics today.
Saina had started her Olympic journey as an 18-year-old when she reached the quarterfinals at the Beijing Games.
The loss suffered eight years ago to Indonesia's Maria Kristin Yulianti spurred her to scoop the bronze at London and she will be hungry to taste gold this time when she starts her campaign in Group G, which includes lesser-known players such as Lohaynny Vicente and Maria Ulitina.
It has been an eventful couple of years for Saina as she shifted base from Hyderabad to Bangalore in early 2014 and trained under the watchful eyes of former chief coach Vimal Kumar.
She won a silver at All England and World Championship, clinched the India Open and coveted China Premier Super Series title and became the World No 1. But an ankle injury sustained in the end phase of last year troubled her and almost derailed her Olympic campaign before Saina fought back and regained her fitness and came up with a consistent run of performance at Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia which culminated with the Australian Open triumph in June.
08:09 Kumbh Mela concludes today
The year-long 'Kumbh Mela' which began in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar last year, will conclude today.
The 'Kumbh Mela' started on July 14 last year after a grand flag-hoisting ceremony
Satish Shukla of Nashik Purohit Sangh said the flag will be brought down on Thursday in a ceremony at Trimbakeshwar at around 9pm and in Nashik at around 9.30pm. The Purohit Sangh has invited Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the function.
Meanwhile, the Nashik Municipal Corporation has made elaborate arrangements for the programme where a large number of devotees are expected to take part.
08:07 Jaitley to launch MSME databank, finance facilitation centres
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will launch a databank to gather information about micro, small and medium enterprises today besides Online Finance Facilitation Centres to provide collective funding options for MSMEs.
"Through the databank, we shall carry out a census of MSMEs online for the first time. The move to go online will help save money as the previous census conducted in 2008 cost Rs 50 crore, whereas this one is expected to be completed in just around Rs 1 crore," MSME Secretary K K Jalan said.
"Moreover, this time, we will also be capturing data of MSME Associations. The census process will start formally today with the launch of the data bank," he added.
Armed with the data, MSME Ministry will be able to plan development activities and incentive programmes in an improved manner.
07:57 'Grim Sleeper' has been sentenced to death
A garbage collector convicted of the "Grim Sleeper" killings that terrorised southern Los Angeles for more than two decades was sentenced to death.
Lonnie David Franklin, 63, had been convicted of 10 counts of first-degree murder for the killings of nine women and a 15-year-old girl between 1985 and 2007.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy told victims' relatives and friends that the sentencing would be unlikely to give them "closure."
"Your loved one, your daughter, your sister, your mother, your friend is still gone," she said.
"Hopefully there is some measure of justice you'll feel, but closure isn't what this trial was about."
During Franklin's three-month trial, which ended in May, the prosecution presented evidence it said linked him to the killings of another four women, although the authorities suspect he is behind dozens more murders.
After the sentencing, Franklin's attorney Dale Atherton dismissed California's death row system as "a joke" and voiced doubts over whether the punishment would ever be carried out.
03:49 Putin accuses Ukraine of 'terror' over alleged Crimea attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday blasted Ukraine over an alleged attempted incursion into the disputed Crimea region that Kiev fiercely denied.
"This is very alarming news. In fact, our security services prevented an incursion into the territory by a sabotage-reconnaissance group from Ukraine's defence ministry," Putin told Russian news agencies.
Putin accused the authorities in Kiev of "practising terror" and pledged not to leave the deaths of two Russian officers in alleged clashes unanswered.
"From the Russian side there were losses -- two soldiers killed. We obviously will not let such things slide by," Putin said.
"The attempt to provoke an uptick in violence, to provoke conflict is nothing but an attempt to distract public attention."
"This is a very dangerous game. We will of course do everything to assure the security of infrastructure, citizens and will take additional measures to provide security, including serious additional measures."
Russia's security service said it had thwarted "terrorist attacks" at the weekend in Crimea by Ukrainian military intelligence and beaten back an armed assault.
The FSB said in a statement that one of its officers was killed in armed clashes while arresting "terrorists" on the night of August 6-7 while a Russian soldier died in a firefight with "sabotage-terrorist" groups sent by the
Ukrainian defence ministry on August 8.
The allegations will fuel further tensions in the feud between Russia and Ukraine, sparked when Moscow annexed Crimea from Kiev in March 2014 after Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.
Ukraine's national security council chief Oleksandr Turchynov blasted the claims as "hysterical and false" and said Moscow was trying to stoke fear in Crimea.
03:44 South Sudan rejects 4,000 more UN peacekeepers
South Sudan on Wednesday rejected a UN proposal to send a 4,000-strong regional force to the restive capital of Juba, saying it undermined the young nation's sovereignty.
The US-drafted resolution presented to the Security Council seeks to establish a protection force of African troops authorised to "use all necessary means" to provide security and deter attacks against UN bases in South Sudan.
But South Sudanese government spokesman Michael Makuei said his country rejected the resolution in its current form as it would "(turn) South Sudan into a protectorate and this is a situation that we will not accept."
The draft, which would also extend the current UN mission's mandate until December, would "undermine the sovereignty of the Republic of South Sudan," Makuei told reporters in Juba.
The head of the East African bloc IGAD, which first proposed the force, had said on Friday it had obtained South Sudan's permission to deploy it.
But Makuei appeared to throw that agreement into doubt, lending credence to fears among diplomats that the government's apparent willingness to participate in the IGAD summit was partly to buy time.
"The protection force should have been an independent body, not under (UN mission) UNMISS, so that they can perform their functions and duties... which we had agreed upon," Makuei said.
02:51 Clinton blasts Trump for 'incitement to violence'
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Wednesday accused Republican opponent Donald Trump of inciting violence with his call for gun rights activists to stop her from nominating liberal United States Supreme Court justices.
Clinton's comments added to a growing outcry over Trump's remarks on Tuesday at a North Carolina rally, which some interpreted as a call for violence against his White House rival. His remarks also fueled widespread concerns about his ability to stay on track.
"Words matter, my friends," the former US secretary of state said a rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
"And if you are running to be the president or you are the president of the United States, words can have tremendous consequences.
"Yesterday, we witnessed the latest in a long line of casual comments from Donald Trump that crossed the line," she said, citing "his casual inciting of violence. Every single one of these incidences shows us that Donald Trump simply does not have the temperament to be the president and commander in chief of the United States."
02:34 Railways orders inquiry into Chennai train robbery case
Railways has ordered an inquiry into the Chennai train robbery incident and sought a detailed report from the department concerned at the earliest.
In a daring heist, Rs 5.78 crore were stolen from the train at Chennai Egmore station. The stolen money was part of the Rs 340 crore cash being sent to Reserve Bank of India from Salem in Tamil Nadu.
Railway Protection Force Director General S K Pathak has ordered an intensive investigation and instructed senior RPF personnel at Chennai and Salem to activate the machinery for early detection of the case, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
According to Railways, loading of consignment carrying cash was done directly from truck to the cargo coaches in the presence of local police and no RPF personnel was present there as per the provisions.
The official said no information about carrying out high value property was given to RPF. The train carrying the consignment also did not suffer any undue detention en route.
He said after arriving at the Chennai Eggmore station, the seal and padlock of the cargo van carrying the consignment was found intact and thereafter it was detached and kept at the station parcel siding under police protection.
However, later on, when one side door was opened in the presence of representatives of consignee and escort, a cut on the roof of the cargo van was noticed and some wooden boxes were found broken and currency bundles were found in open.
The official said Tamil Nadu DGP has also been requested for necessary action in this regard.
02:18 Two police officers shot in Sebastian County, Arkansas, US
At least two law enforcement officers were shot Wednesday in Sebastian County, Arkansas, according to ABC affiliate KHBS-TV.
The shooting was confirmed to ABC News by Sandy Sanders, mayor of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The conditions of the officers are unknown at this time.
Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck told KHBS-TV that the officers were responding to a disturbance at a home.He said a suspect is now in custody.
02:16 Relative of Charlie Hebdo killer agrees to extradition
The brother-in-law of one of the Islamic extremists behind the January 2015 attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday agreed to his extradition from Bulgaria but denied being a "terrorist".
"I want an immediate extradition to France," Mourad Hamyd, 20, told an extradition hearing in Sofia, calling his arrest an "injustice... I have been declared a terrorist on the basis of suspicions".
Hamyd was arrested last month in Turkey while allegedly trying to enter Syria to join jihadists. He was handed over to Bulgarian authorities on July 28 and France issued a European arrest warrant.
The warrant said that Hamyd, brother-in-law of Cherif Kouachi, was wanted for "conspiracy for preparation of acts of terrorism".
Jihadist brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi gunned down eight Charlie staff as well as several others in and around the building in the assault, which began three days of terror in Paris.
The warrant however makes no mention of Hamyd being suspected of having had any involvement in the attack.
He was questioned and freed shortly after that attack after being wrongly identified on social media as being one of the three killers.
01:33 US Secret Service talks to Trump camp about gun rights remark: CNN
The United States Secret Service has had "more than one" conversation with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign regarding comments the candidate made about gun rights, according to CNN.
"If (Democrat Hillary Clinton) gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks," Trump said at a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday. "Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know," he continued.
Some critics believe Trump was referring to gun violence against his rival.
01:31 Greenpeace questions govt for pushing high risk Kudankulam project
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly dedicating the first unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear power plant, Greenpeace India on Wednesday questioned the Centre for pushing the venture which places communities and environment at "high risk" of nuclear contamination.
It said the venture is particularly "troubling" as India lacks preparedness to handle a nuclear emergency, and also it is at the odds with the prime minister's focus on clean growth.
The green body said solar and wind energy are far safer renewable alternatives to nuclear or thermal power.
"Safety aside, decentralised renewable energy provides a far better chance of protecting India's energy security as well as ensuring the fundamental right of energy access to over 200 million people," Greenpeace India campaigner Priya Pillai said.
Over the long-term, she said it would be in India's best interests to prioritise optimal utilisation of its existing power capacity, cut down on transmission and distribution losses, and continue to pursue its strategy of setting right
financially distressed discoms and meeting its laudable renewable energy targets.
Noting that Kudankulam has a population of over 10 lakh and people living within a 30-kilometre radius of the plant, Greenpeace India, in its Red Alert report released in June, highlighted that population density around nuclear power plants in India poses a significant evacuation challenge in the event of an emergency.
India's current evacuation plans only provide support within a radius of 16 km in case of an offsite nuclear accident while for Fukushima, Japan had to set an evacuation zone of 30 km, it said.
00:43 Two planes land safely at Brussels airport after bomb threats: Reports
Two aircraft landed safely at Brussels' Zaventem airport after receiving bomb threats, the Belgian state broadcaster VRT reported on Wednesday evening.
State prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt said his office had received information about possible bomb alerts and had opened an investigation, but declined to provide details.
He said the bomb squad had not been called to the airport.
An airport police spokeswoman said no bomb alerts were in place and that there was no problem at the airport.
VRT said both planes, one of which was flying from Oslo, landed safely.
A reporter at Belgian broadcaster Woestijnvis/Proximus TV, Bart Raes, tweeted that he was on the flight from Oslo and that the pilot had received the bomb threat 20 minutes before the plane was due to land.
Raes said that passengers were informed of the threat and had to wait 10 minutes before being allowed to leave the plane after it landed.
00:11 Trump blames media for 'gun threat' row
Republican Donald Trump has blamed the media after being accused of urging supporters to kill his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton.
He told Fox News "dishonest" reporters had twisted his remarks, which appeared to suggest that gun rights advocates could stop Clinton if elected.
The businessman-turned-politician denied incitement and said he was exhorting his supporters to vote.
The comments on Tuesday afternoon sparked a firestorm of criticism.
Some interpreted his comments as a dark suggestion that gun owners could take up arms against Clinton, while others said they were at the very least irresponsible remarks that could have violent consequences.
The highest-ranked Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan, said it was an inappropriate joke.
00:07 At least 7 killed in explosions in southern Turkey
Two bomb blasts killed at least seven people and injured dozens more in southern Turkey Wednesday, a senior official said.
One of the explosions targeted a police bus outside Mardin State Hospital in the town of Kiziltepe, on the Turkish border with Syria.
The blast killed three people and wounded at least 30 people -- including five children.
At the same time, a separate car bomb on a bridge in the nearby city of Diyarbakir also killed four people and injured at least 13, added the official, who was not identified per government protocol.
Initial assessments indicate Kurdish militants were behind both attacks, the official said.
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