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Mon, 20 June 2016
Kamat may return to Congress soon
Timeline Refresh
23:53 The Nuclear Suppliers Group's Critical India Decision
Beginning on Tuesday, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, or NSG -- 48 countries that export most of the world's nuclear material, equipment, and technology '" will meet in Seoul to decide whether India should now be allowed to join.
The United States has strongly urged the NSG to say yes.
The NSG should not say yes next week. It should tell India that there are good reasons to include it, but also that the group needs to complete an internal fact-finding and consensus-forming process in part to prepare the NSG for the consequences of possible Indian membership.
The US has argued that bringing India into the group would be good for nuclear nonproliferation. So far it isn't clear what the net overall benefit would be, especially because the White House is prepared to go forward without India having made non-proliferation commitments that many others in the group have made and virtually all say are important.
Read full article HERE
The United States has strongly urged the NSG to say yes.
The NSG should not say yes next week. It should tell India that there are good reasons to include it, but also that the group needs to complete an internal fact-finding and consensus-forming process in part to prepare the NSG for the consequences of possible Indian membership.
The US has argued that bringing India into the group would be good for nuclear nonproliferation. So far it isn't clear what the net overall benefit would be, especially because the White House is prepared to go forward without India having made non-proliferation commitments that many others in the group have made and virtually all say are important.
Read full article HERE
23:42 Kamat may return to Congress soon
Efforts to pacify Gurudas Kamat, who had quit the Congress a fortnight ago, are likely to bear fruit soon and party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi have spoken to him over the issue.
A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said Jairam Ramesh was in touch with Kamat who was 'not happy' with the politics being played by Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam and All India Congress Committee general secretary Mohan Prakash, who is in charge of party affairs in Maharashtra.
The leader said Sonia and Rahul had spoken to Kamat recently in a bid to pacify the senior leader.
Kamat has said that he has the 'highest respect and regard' for Sonia and Rahul and his 'resignation is purely on personal grounds'.
On June 6, the 61-year-old Kamat had announced his decision to quit active politics, springing a surprise on the party.
A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said Jairam Ramesh was in touch with Kamat who was 'not happy' with the politics being played by Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam and All India Congress Committee general secretary Mohan Prakash, who is in charge of party affairs in Maharashtra.
The leader said Sonia and Rahul had spoken to Kamat recently in a bid to pacify the senior leader.
Kamat has said that he has the 'highest respect and regard' for Sonia and Rahul and his 'resignation is purely on personal grounds'.
On June 6, the 61-year-old Kamat had announced his decision to quit active politics, springing a surprise on the party.
23:07 Education system should be 'Indianised': Venkaiah
The education system in India is still 'a continuation of Lord Macaulay's legacy' and it should be 'Indianised', Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today.
"We need to Indianise the modern education being imparted to our students. We need to take ahead what we have inherited from our ancestors," he said at an event to dedicate the new building of Saraswati Sishumandir at Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh.
"There is a need to change Lord Macaulay's education system which is continuing....It is the need of the hour to make the students aware of Indian culture and values," the Union urban development minister said.
"Bhartiyata is a way of life and the students should be told about Indian history and great Indian personalities," Venkaiah said.
He attended various programmes in the district as a part of the month-long 'Vikas Parv' to inform people about achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the last two years and also addressed a public meeting at Surana College ground in the city.
"We need to Indianise the modern education being imparted to our students. We need to take ahead what we have inherited from our ancestors," he said at an event to dedicate the new building of Saraswati Sishumandir at Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh.
"There is a need to change Lord Macaulay's education system which is continuing....It is the need of the hour to make the students aware of Indian culture and values," the Union urban development minister said.
"Bhartiyata is a way of life and the students should be told about Indian history and great Indian personalities," Venkaiah said.
He attended various programmes in the district as a part of the month-long 'Vikas Parv' to inform people about achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the last two years and also addressed a public meeting at Surana College ground in the city.
22:36 Modi arrives in Chandigarh for Yoga Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight arrived in Chandigarh to participate in the second International Yoga Day celebrations tomorrow.
He was received at the airport by Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is also Union Territory of Chandigarh's administrator, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, official sources said.
The prime minister will stay at Punjab Raj Bhawan, they said. Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh tomorrow to be held amid tight security.
He will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.
He was received at the airport by Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is also Union Territory of Chandigarh's administrator, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, official sources said.
The prime minister will stay at Punjab Raj Bhawan, they said. Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh tomorrow to be held amid tight security.
He will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.
21:59 2 Indians among 26 killed in blasts in Afghanistan
Separate bomb explosions in Afghanistan Monday morning killed at least 26 people, of which 2 were Indian, and wounded around 40 others.
The deadliest attack occurred in Kabul when a suicide bomber approached a minibus on foot and set off explosives.
The Taliban swiftly claimed responsibility.
21:54 Orlando nightclub gunman 'not directed by foreign terror group'
At a news conference on Monday, the FBI's Ron Hopper also said that in 911 emergency calls, Omar Mateen described his actions to an operator in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner".
Transcripts released on Monday show that Mateen told a crisis negotiator the US needed to stop bombing Iraq and Syria.
Mateen spoke three times with an emergency dispatcher once the massacre was under way.
The FBI said Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier. He also claimed to be equipped with bombs in a vehicle outside, though authorities say they have found no evidence of explosives.
He said to a 911 operator: "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."
The communications, along with Facebook posts and searches made before and during the shooting, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life.
21:34 US Supreme Court lets stand state assault weapons bans
The US Supreme Court today effectively upheld state bans on military-style assault weapons, declining to hear a challenge to bans on guns like
the one used to kill 49 people in Orlando earlier this month.
The challenge was brought by gun rights advocates seeking to overturn bans on assault weapons passed by Connecticut and New York after the 2012 killing of 26 people at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
In that attack, a mentally disturbed man armed with a military-style semi-automatic assault rifle shot to death 20 children and six others at the school.
The Supreme Court's action, while effectively validating the New York and Connecticut laws, was silent on the specifics of the case and why it declined to hear the challenge.
At the center of a long-standing US battle over gun control legislation is the US constitution's second amendment, which protects the rights of citizens to bear arms.
21:08 Trump fires his controversial campaign manager
Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump today fired his controversial campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
"The Donald J Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign," Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement to The New York Times.
"The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future," Hicks said.
20:58 IS seizes Syria villages from US-backed fighters: monitor
The Islamic State group launched a surprise assault today near its besieged stronghold in northern Syria, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters, a monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of their bastion of Manbij.
The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in their push for Manbij.
"IS is trying to defend Manbij by sending fighters from outside the town to attack the SDF in these villages," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Britain-based Observatory.
20:58 Hindu extremist groups biggest hurdle to normalising Indo-Pak ties: Pak Minister
Pakistan's Interior Minister today alleged that Hindu "extremist groups" like RSS and Shiv Sena are the "biggest hurdle" to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties as he asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to name the
"forces" which she said are against good bilateral relations.
"If the Indian foreign minister is serious and determined for (good) ties with Pakistan, then she should not talk through riddles or try for political point scoring. In fact, she should clarify and point out which forces in her opinion were against good ties between Pakistan and India," Interior
Minister Nisar Ali Khan said.
Khan was reacting to Swaraj's remarks that there are forces which do not want good relations between the prime ministers of the two countries and better ties between the two neighbours.
20:36 Israeli minister justifies profiling after Trump remarks
A senior Israeli official today justified profiling Muslims for security reasons, after Donald Trump said he was open to adopting the controversial practice in the United States and cited Israel.
Intelligence agencies "must characterise, see where the dangers are coming from, and locate them," Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said.
"It's not the entire population, but sometimes there is a certain type of terror such as Islamic terror. You can only look for it among Muslims," he said in a briefing to reporters.
Trump, the free-talking presumptive Republican presidential nominee, came close to endorsing profiling outright in an interview aired Sunday on CBS.
His comments came in a discussion on the Orlando nightclub massacre by shooter Omar Mateen, who was Muslim, and past comments by Trump to the effect that if elected president in November he "respectfully" would place mosques under surveillance.
20:17 Netanyahu signals Israel not yet ready to ratify N-test treaty
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today said that Israel supports a treaty to ban nuclear testing but signalled his country was not yet ready to ratify a UN pact adopted by the UN nearly 20 years ago.
Netanyahu's office issued a statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty after he met Lassina Zerbo, the head of the Vienna-based organisation which oversees it.
The CTBT, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 1996, bans all nuclear explosions.
Israel, believed to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, signed the treaty in 1996 but has yet to ratify it.
20:11 Swamy attacks Jung, says he takes instructions from Ahmed Patel
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy today mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of seeking "guidance" of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.
He made the attack on Jung while joining a protest by BJP MP Maheish Girri, who demanded an apology from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for linking him to the murder of an NDMC official. Separately, Swamy, in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, said he has information to suggest that the Jung was playing a "mischievous role" in "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass BJP.
"He (Jung) has no work other than making rounds of Ahmed Patel's place. He (Jung) should have spoken out for MPs like Girri and he should have ordered Kejriwal to provide documents or apologise," Swamy told reporters.
He also said Jung should have categorically told Kejriwal that if he does not substantiate his allegations against Girri or apologise, then he would recommend to the Centre dismissal of the AAP government.
19:30 New Chinese system named world's top supercomputer
A new Chinese computer system that can make 93 quadrillions calculations per second was today named the world's most powerful supercomputer.
The supercomputer called Sunway-TaihuLight developed by the National Research Centre of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology (NRCPC) is built entirely using processors designed and made in China, state-media reported.
Sunway TaihuLight, with a new system built entirely using processors designed and made in China topped the list of the Top 500 supercomputers with 93 quadrillion calculations per second, according to the newest edition of the list which was announced at the 2016 International Supercomputing Conference in Germany.
With processing capacity of 125.436 petaflops (PFlops) per second, which means it can perform quadrillions of calculations per second at peak performance, Sunway-TaihuLight is the first supercomputer to achieve speeds in excess of 100 PFlops.
19:13 India level T20 seires with emphatic win
India thrashed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the second T20 international in Harare on Monday to level the three match-series 1-1.
Zimbabwe 99-9 in 20 overs (PJ Moor 31, B Sran 4/10, J Bumrah 3/11) India 103-0 in 13.1 overs (Mandeep Singh 52 no, K L Rahul 47 no).
18:47 22 killed in China floods, 3.7 million hit
At least 22 people have been killed and 3.7 million hit by flooding and landslides in China, which has been battling heavy rains for the past three days that have caused economic losses worth over $400 million, officials said today.
The ministry of civil affairs said that about 3.7 million people in seven provinces, including Hubei and Sichuan, have been hit by flooding, landslides and mud flows since Saturday.
At least 20 people have been reported missing. Direct economic losses due to the flooding has hit 2.68 billion yuan ($407.9 million), the ministry said. More than 2,400 homes were damaged and 20,900 hectares of crops were destroyed in the summer rainstorms, which were heavier than usual this year.
Statistics from the ministry showed that floods and hailstorms resulted in the death of two persons and displaced 13,000 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region battered by bad weather between June 16 to June 19. One person still remains missing.
18:26
Orlando shooter Omar Mateen had bought jewellery worth nearly $9,000 less than a week before he killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub, the worst mass shooting in modern US history.
Mateen made the expensive purchases on June 6 at a Kay Jewelers in Jensen Beach, Florida, which is near the Lotus Gun Shop where he attempted to buy body armor, ABC News reported. Six days later, 29-year-old Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Mateen -- born in the US to Afghan parents -- had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group during the attack. He was killed during a police raid. Signet, which owns Kay Jewelers, did not confirm the purchase by Mateen, but issued a statement saying that they are "working closely with the authorities."
17:33 RBI was wise to disregard advice on further rate cuts: Rajan hits back
RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's first remarks (no, not on his return to academia) on the monetary policy, inflation and rate cuts after the weekend shocker.
Rajan says that the monetary policy committee is a revolutionary step in fight against inflation.
"High inflation has been with us in India for the last four decades. There is a positive correlation between inflation and growth and we can never abandon inflation to focus on growth and we can never abandon inflation to focus on growth.
"By focusing on low inflation, we are abandoning old ways that benefited the few at the expense of majority poor. RBI can never abandon inflation to focus on growth. RBI was wise to disregard advice on further rate cuts."
Rajan has in fact cut rates as inflation has cooled. The repo rate at 6.5 per cent are the lowest since 2011. But his critics, especially the government has accused him of not cutting rates and impeding growth, the platform on which the Modi government came to power.
The RBI governor also said he was confident the government and the new RBI chief would internalise frameworks and institutions that have been set up and ensure low inflation future.
Rajan says that the monetary policy committee is a revolutionary step in fight against inflation.
"High inflation has been with us in India for the last four decades. There is a positive correlation between inflation and growth and we can never abandon inflation to focus on growth and we can never abandon inflation to focus on growth.
"By focusing on low inflation, we are abandoning old ways that benefited the few at the expense of majority poor. RBI can never abandon inflation to focus on growth. RBI was wise to disregard advice on further rate cuts."
Rajan has in fact cut rates as inflation has cooled. The repo rate at 6.5 per cent are the lowest since 2011. But his critics, especially the government has accused him of not cutting rates and impeding growth, the platform on which the Modi government came to power.
The RBI governor also said he was confident the government and the new RBI chief would internalise frameworks and institutions that have been set up and ensure low inflation future.
16:50 Sensex rebounds on FDI norms, easing Rexit, Brexit fears
Recovering from its early morning plunge, BSE Sensex today soared 241 points as the government unleashed a new wave of FDI reforms and Brexit worries eased while hectic buying by institutions and talking-up by influential marketmen helped counter Rexit jitters.
The rupee trimming its initial losses against the American currency too supported the rebound in equities. Sentiment got a further boost after global rating agency Fitch allayed concerns of any impact on India's sovereign ratings due to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's decision against a second term saying "policies are more important than personalities" on this front.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India bought government's securities worth Rs 10,000 crore via OMO purchase auction held today, while the total amount offered by participants stood at Rs 45,922 crore.
In sweeping reforms, the government has decided to ease Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in civil aviation, single-brand retail, defence and pharma by permitting more investments under automatic route.
The BSE Sensex lost 178 points in early trade to hit a low of 26,447.88 on Rajan's announcement. However, hectic buying thereafter helped the index return to the positive zone within minutes as it settled 241.01 points or 0.91 per cent higher at 26,866.92. Overall, the market swung in a range of 437 points during the day.
The rupee trimming its initial losses against the American currency too supported the rebound in equities. Sentiment got a further boost after global rating agency Fitch allayed concerns of any impact on India's sovereign ratings due to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's decision against a second term saying "policies are more important than personalities" on this front.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India bought government's securities worth Rs 10,000 crore via OMO purchase auction held today, while the total amount offered by participants stood at Rs 45,922 crore.
In sweeping reforms, the government has decided to ease Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in civil aviation, single-brand retail, defence and pharma by permitting more investments under automatic route.
The BSE Sensex lost 178 points in early trade to hit a low of 26,447.88 on Rajan's announcement. However, hectic buying thereafter helped the index return to the positive zone within minutes as it settled 241.01 points or 0.91 per cent higher at 26,866.92. Overall, the market swung in a range of 437 points during the day.
16:47 Nitish asks Modi to ban alcohol across country
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose prohibition across the country as those addicted to alcohol cannot perform yoga which requires concentration. Addressing a meeting yesterday, Kumar said Yoga was a natural treatment process but liquor addicts cannot perform it. Yoga would be meaningless unless a ban was imposed on sale of liquor across the country, he said. Kumar said he was doing yoga for several years but never publicised it.
16:21
Progress of the monsoon.
16:07 No public holiday tomorrow; yoga voluntary for govt employees
There will be no public holiday and yoga will be voluntary for central government employees tomorrow, when the country observes second International Yoga Day. "There will be no holiday and all government offices will remain open tomorrow," a senior official in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said. He said the Centre has not made it mandatory for the employees to take part in yoga.
"It is voluntary. Necessary arrangements have been put in place to allow employees to attend yoga at various programmes being organised across the country," the official said.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees.
"It is voluntary. Necessary arrangements have been put in place to allow employees to attend yoga at various programmes being organised across the country," the official said.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees.
16:00 Rupert Everett says Caitlyn Jenner made 'a terrible mistake'
Rupert Everett has said Caitlyn Jenner made a terrible mistake in choosing to transition and had "no clue' of what being transsexual involved.
The 57-year-old actor, who is gay himself, warned about the dangers of children having sex change operations and argued children should be able to embrace the "ambivalence' of their gender without resorting to medical procedures.
Everett explained that he wanted to be a girl while he was growing up and dressed exclusively as a girl between the ages of six and 14.
The 57-year-old actor, who is gay himself, warned about the dangers of children having sex change operations and argued children should be able to embrace the "ambivalence' of their gender without resorting to medical procedures.
Everett explained that he wanted to be a girl while he was growing up and dressed exclusively as a girl between the ages of six and 14.
15:54 Indian envoy to Bangladesh visits Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka after threat
The Indian envoy in Bangladesh today visited the Ramakrishna Mission here, days after suspected Islamists claiming to be ISIS followers threatened to kill the spiritual mission's principal. India's High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Ramkrishna Mission compound, four days after unidentified militants claiming to be followers of the Islamic State (ISIS) issued a death threat to its principal asking him to abstain from preaching his religion in "Islamic Bangladesh".
15:34 Return of the Chamcha Age
In his book The Chamcha Age, published in 1982, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Kanshi Ram warned the Dalits against becoming "chamchas' (stooges) of the brahmanical establishment. The book focussed on the historic Poona Pact, which was preceded by a severe confrontation between Gandhi and Ambedkar on the issue of separate electorates for Dalits.
Read more
Read more
15:31
People are talking about Priyanka Chopra's armpits on the cover of Maxim and this is why... Take a closer look and read
15:30 Rajan's celebrity status irked govt
A day after Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan's announcement regarding his intention to not seek a second term, the reaction from New Delhi's bureaucratic and policy making circles was as varied as that of civil society.
Senior officials in the government said Rajan's decision to leave at the end of his term in September had been respected by the centre but maintained that controversial statements by members of the ruling party had no bearing on any discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Rajan. Read more
Senior officials in the government said Rajan's decision to leave at the end of his term in September had been respected by the centre but maintained that controversial statements by members of the ruling party had no bearing on any discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Rajan. Read more
15:28 Will SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya replace Rajan?
Looking to finalise RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's successor at the earliest, government is considering SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya, former RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das among the probable contenders.
Highly placed sources said that other names being considered include RBI Deputy Governor Urjit Patel, former Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian. "It (announcement of new Governor) will happen reasonably in advance. We don't want unnecessary speculation," said a top government source, adding that "the process of selection is already on". With Rajan's term ending on September 4, sources said the government would like to announce the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of India by July end.
Highly placed sources said that other names being considered include RBI Deputy Governor Urjit Patel, former Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian. "It (announcement of new Governor) will happen reasonably in advance. We don't want unnecessary speculation," said a top government source, adding that "the process of selection is already on". With Rajan's term ending on September 4, sources said the government would like to announce the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of India by July end.
15:22 UN gets ready for yoga day
Syed Akbaruddin, India's Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations tweets: @AkbaruddinIndia Yoga set to light up @UN. Sneak peek of Yoga posture projections on iconic UN Hqrs building in New York on.
June 21 is International Yoga Day.
June 21 is International Yoga Day.
15:14
Sanjaya Baru @barugaru India pre-empts Brexit bears with new FDI policy! 100% fdi in many sectors incl defence, aviation, pharma!
15:13 PMO, North Block exults at Rajan's exit
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Ministry of Finance heaved a sigh of relief that the BSE Sensex did not react to the extent expected at the news that RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan will not be accepting a second term. Over the weekend, Rajan in an email to his staff said he was joining academia after his tenure ends in September.
This morning, senior officials of the finance ministry sat glued to the TV watching news to discern the immediate impact of Rajan's exit, dubbed Rrexit.
Joint Secretaries in the finance ministry were sending each other jokes on Whatsapp about the RBI governor's imminent departure. It was evident that the senior secretaries to the GOI found Rajan's exit a welcome one.BJP Union Ministers say that Rajan was a plant of the UPA and is believed to be the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram's man in the ministry.
They even pointed to the morning rains as a good omen.
This morning, senior officials of the finance ministry sat glued to the TV watching news to discern the immediate impact of Rajan's exit, dubbed Rrexit.
Joint Secretaries in the finance ministry were sending each other jokes on Whatsapp about the RBI governor's imminent departure. It was evident that the senior secretaries to the GOI found Rajan's exit a welcome one.BJP Union Ministers say that Rajan was a plant of the UPA and is believed to be the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram's man in the ministry.
They even pointed to the morning rains as a good omen.
14:50 Govt approves 100% FDI in aviation, defence, e-commerce
The government approves Foreign Investment (FDI) up to 100% in Defence Sector, aviation and e-commerce. FDI limit for Defence Sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959. Private Security Agencies-FDI up to 49 per cent permitted undr automatic route and FDI beyond 49 per cent and up to 74 per cent will be permitted with Govt approval route. FDI norms relaxed for single brand retail, civil aviation, airports, pharmaceuticals and animal husbandry.
14:10 Raghuram Rajan, his father's son
Not many know that RBI governor Raghuram Rajan's father was a spook with Indian intelligence, and was in fact one of the first 'Kaoboys' as they came to be known, when R N Kao set up India's premier external intelligence agency, RAW.
R Govindarajan was Kao's most-trusted aide then, and had resigned from the IPS to join the new spy agency. A brilliant mind, Govindarajan was tipped to become RAW chief but then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi chose A K Verma over him.
Baffled no doubt, but a loyal bureaucrat he accepted his new posting of chairman of joint intelligence committee and after retirement settled down in Chennai.
His son Raghuram probably learnt his lessons well, blogs Pranab Dhal Samanta in Economic Times: 'Through his negotiations with the Manmohan Singh government, he was clear about his status of work with the Chicago Booth School of Business and has been on long leave. At various points through his term, absurd questions were raised on his national commitment and his willingness to be 'Indian' enough. Worse, they find voice till date.'
But while the bureaucrats may have regarded Rajan with scepticism, the world of spooks his father inhabited embraced him with open arms. 'He was seen as extended family among them. He was one of the candidates to deliver the first Kao memorial lecture just as an eminent academic, but the family thought it best to remain low-profile.'
We could tell you more about Rajan's recollections of Kao and his times, but it's best you read it here.
14:00 Why Katheria urgently needs some work
Ram Shankar Katheria, MoS in the Union HRD ministry, is jobless as his senior, Smriti Irani, does not allocate him any work. So what does he do?
He gets close to Varun Gandhi. He even made it a point to be seated next to him during the BJP's recent national executive meeting. Not only that, he'd even signal to the 200-strong contingent from Agra to should slogans in favour of Varun, which is learnt to have irked his senior minister no end.
Idle minds, as they say.
13:58
Just In: Seoul meeting of Nuclear Suppliers' Group not to discuss India's entry, says China, adding that with NSG members still divided, it is not mature to talk about the entry of new countries
13:55 Upset over Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle, actor Ambareesh resigns as MLA
Upset over Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle, actor Ambareesh resigns as MLA.
The Congress MLA tendered his resignation to the Speaker in his chamber.
The actor-turned-politician's supporters had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway in Mandya district following his sacking from the state Cabinet on Sunday.
Ambareesh held the housing portfolio before Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah carried out his biggest Cabinet reshuffle in three years.
According to media reports, Ambareesh's failing health was said to be the reason for the Congress to consider removing him from the Cabinet. There were also questions over his contribution as a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. Siddaramaiah and Ambareesh had not been on good terms since the last few days.
13:32 A minister's tough house-keeping call
In April a Union minister occupied a spacious government bungalow near the prime minister's residence, and has since been struggling to put it back in shape.
The previous occupant, a secretary to the Government of India, was dear to UPA leadership who had this habit of leaking information about the Narendra Modi government. While the officer cultivated potatoes in the spacious garden, his daughter converted the accommodation into a rekhi centre, and the whole accommodation had thus been altered.
The officer could read horoscopes, but alas failed to realise when the axe fell on him. And cleaning up the house once he vacated it has fallen on the minister.
13:25 Sheena Bora case: Indrani's driver Shyamvar Rai made approver
A Mumbai court on Monday made Sheena Bora murder case prime accused Indrani Mukerjea's former driver Shyamvar Rai an approver.
Rai, whose arrest last year led the police to unearth Sheenas murder, had on May 11 told a special CBI court that he wants to turn approver in the case and sought pardon. Rai had, in the first week of May, forwarded a two-page letter to the special CBI court stating his intention to reveal details of how Sheena was murdered.
On April 24, 2012, Indrani, Khanna and Rai had allegedly strangulated Sheena, and later disposed of her body in a thickly forested area in Gagode village of Raigad district, according to the Khar police. The murder came to light after Rais arrest by the Khar police in an Arms Act case. Indrani was arrested on August 25 last year. The CBI arrested Peter a few months later.
The case was initially probed by the Khar police, but after a lot of controversies during investigations, it was transferred to the CBI on the request of the Maharashtra government.
13:14 This minister simply wants to be heard
A Union minister is reported to be making the rounds of North Block and South Block to tell all those who care to listen that her offspring will not desert the BJP and has no aspirations to become a chief minister. The minister has so far met eight senior BJP leaders to convince them of this. Did they believe the account? Wait and watch.
12:57 Bihar topper muddle crosses border; Nepal arrests 36 'fake' doctors
M I Khan reports: Nepalese police have arrested 36 doctors, including six women, working in reputed hospitals as part of a major crackdown on medical professionals in the country who have obtained medical degrees and licences by using fake academic credentials.
"Most of those doctors arrested by Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police were working in different hospitals for years as well as running their private clinics after obtaining MBBS degrees from medical colleges in Nepal and China on the basis forged Class 12 certificates from Bihar," officials said.
An official, Keshav Raj Ghimire said that after the Bihar Class 12 merit muddle cum toppers scam hit headlines, the Nepal government ordered an inquiry into Class 10 and Class 12 certificates issued from Bihar to people of border town in Nepal.
"In the inquiry, it was found that many people have obtained fake certificates of Class 10 and 12 from Bihar and had also used them for higher education, including MBBS."
The CIB yesterday presented the doctors, who used fake academic credentials at the Kathmandu District Court seeking judicial remand for further investigation, police said. The court remanded them to custody for five days for further investigation.
12:40 Trains have resumed following power failure on Western Line
Meanwhile, Western Railway tweets: "Problem has been rectified, Overhead equipment charged, supply restored & traffic likely to start in 10 minutes."
12:39
Bihar toppers scam: Baccha Rai held as main accused with recovery of pistol & 5 live rounds, case registered under Arms act
12:30 SC refuses to stay culling of nilgai, wild boar, monkeys
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to put on hold the Centre's notifications that declared some animals as vermin, allowing them to be culled and asked the petitioner to take up the matter with the government.
An animal rights activist on June 15 asked the court to quash the three notifications that declared nilgai (blue bulls), monkeys and wild boars as vermin in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, respectively.
The petition also requested the court to immediately put on hold the notifications that pitted two cabinet ministers against each other and has enraged animal rights activists.
"The impugned notifications have been passed in absolute disregard of the human-wildlife conflict plaguing the country and without any scientific survey backing them," the plea said.
The Centre's decisions to classify -- on state governments' request -- the animals as vermin put the spotlight back on conservation challenges in India as incidents of man-animal conflict rise with shrinking wildlife habitats.
12:05 Power glitch halts Mumbai's WR suburban trains
Western Railway's local train services in Mumbai were hit on Monday after a technical glitch forced trains from Churchgate to a halt.
In a series of tweets, Western Railway said: "Due to power not holding at DDR (Dadar), there is no train from Churchgate as of now for a while. Efforts on for early restoration."
"It is found that problem has occurred due to theft of battery Box at Mahim Electricity Sub Station. Efforts on in full swing for early restoration."
"Technical glitch in OHE Circuit, problem likely to be rectified in next 15 minutes after which services will resume regularly."
Trains are being reversed from Dadar.
All trains originating from Borivili will reverse from Andheri.
No Western Railway trains to Churchgate will go beyond Bandra.
11:51 PM Modi condemns terror attack in Kabul
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condemned the attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security guards in Kabul and said India will provide all assistance to Nepal government in this hour of tragedy.
"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives," he said in a tweet.
"We are taking steps to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy," the Prime Minister said.
Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital.
11:35 Indian writer wins first prize at Winchester univ festival
Susmita Bhattacharya, former Mumbai native and Rediff contributor, has won the first prize under the category 'Memoir' at the prestigious University of Winchester Writers' Festival.
Susmita won for her essay: Touchstone -- A Cancer Diary.
You can read more about Susmita here.
11:26 Day after turning 46, Rahul flies abroad on a short visit
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he is going abroad for a "few days", but did not specify the country he is heading for.
"Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit. Thanks again to all who met & wished me y'day, truly grateful for your affection!", he said on Twitter.
Gandhi had celebrated his 46th birthday only yesterday amid speculation that he could be elevated as the party chief on that day.
Gandhi's 56-day mysterious sabbatical last year had created much controversy in political circles with the ruling BJP making his absence in the midst of Budget session of Parliament an issue.
Party leaders have time and again said that Gandhi, who was made the party Vice President in January 2013 at the Jaipur 'Chintan Shivir,' will be elevated soon.
Congress is passing through a difficult phase since its debacle in the May 2014 Lok Sabha polls and has faced a string of defeats in Assembly elections, including in Assam and Kerala.
10:38 Saffron or green or red, will accept what is good for nation: HRD MoS Katheria clarifies
Union minister Ram S Katheria, who triggered a row on Saturday when he was heard saying that 'bhagwakaran' (saffronisation) or 'sanghwad' is good for the country and is bound to happen, on Monday said his remarks had been misinterpreted by the media.
"I just said whatever is good for the nation, we'll accept that; whether its saffronisation or green or red color," the minister told ANI.
"We kept silent for such a long time and never accused anyone but today there is such a condition in this country. Today we need to create a curriculum which increases respect of our country in entire world," Katheria, who represents Agra in Lok Sabha, had said during his speech.
"Reporters told us that some people are saying that our government is saffronising education in the country. I am saying this today: Saffronisation will definitely take place in education and in the country," he added.
10:24 No Indian cricketer or match official held for rape in Harare: BCCI
Board of Control for Cricket in India president Anurag Thakur on Sunday quashed reports of an Indian cricketer being held by the police for allegedly raping a woman in Harare, saying the allegations are completely untrue and neither the player nor the match official is found involved in the incident.
"There is no truth in this allegation. There is no Indian cricketer or any match official involved in the incident. They have nothing to do with the incident. I just want to make it clear that the BCCI employees, the players or the match official have nothing to do with the incident," Thakur told the media.
Meanwhile, Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, R Masakui, also confirmed that there is no involvement of the Indian cricketer in the Harare incident.
Masakui, however, revealed that two persons have been detained in this regard, adding that the Indian embassy in Harare is following up on this case.
India's cricket tour of Zimbabwe on Sunday was hit by a massive controversy after an official associated with one of the sponsors of the series was arrested for alleged rape even though he pleaded innocence to the charge.
10:22 Countdown for launch of PSLV-C34, which will send 20 satellites to space, begins
Indian Space Research Organisation today began the cleared the 48-hour countdown for the launch of record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 am on June 22.
"Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the 48-hour countdown starting at 09.26 hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09.26hr IST," a senior ISRO official said.
The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.
PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.
ISRO said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.
09:59
Just In: Absconding Ahmedabad serial blasts (in 2008) accused Nasir Rangrej arrested from Karnataka by Gujarat ATS
09:55
ANI reports: Taliban takes responsibility of today's Kabul suicide attack, that killed and wounded 22 people: Pajhwok news
09:23 Rajan's exit: Sensex dips; Rupee tumbles
The surprise announcement of Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan to not seek a second term seemed to have rattled both the equity and forex markets today with the Sensex shedding 163 points in early trade while the Nifty was down over 50 points.
Rupee nosedived 61 paise against US dollar to 67.69 in early trade before recovering
Traders had feared that Dr Rajan's exit from the RBI may lead to capital outflows from the country at a time when global investors are already nervous ahead of the key Brexit referendum in UK on Thursday.
Stock market experts had earlier observed that there could be some knee-jerk reaction in early trade, while currency market may also turn wobbly following the governor's decision not to seek an extension for his second stint at the mint street.
The negative sentiment from Rajan's exit is expected to be aggravated by the already volatile global market which is currently weighed down by the Brexit next week.
And on the domestic front, the delay in monsoon rains and also the ensuing maturity of foreign currency deposits worth about $20 billion are also expected to weigh on investor sentiment, they said.
09:03 Suicide bomber hits minibus in Kabul; several feared dead: Police
A suicide bomber hit a minibus carrying foreign security guards and caused several casualties today in Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad, police said.
The attacker was on foot, according to police, who refused to give a toll but said there were "multiple casualties" among the bus passengers who were "employees of a foreign compound".
The bus was carrying Nepalese guards, according to an AFP cameraman, who also reported more than two dozen ambulances at the scene.
It is the first attack in Kabul since the start of holy fasting month of Ramadan on June 6. The last attack in the Afghan capital on April 19 left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded.
08:44 Bihar topper scam: Ex-Board chairman, wife arrested
Former Bihar School Examination Board chairman Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.
A warrant had been issued by a Patna civil court last week against Singh, who is a key accused in the case, and his wife who the investigator believe was actively involved into the irregularities at the BSEB and was quite influential in its affairs.
Singh had gone underground after resigning from the board two weeks ago ever since his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.
08:15 Jisha rape & murder: Identification parade of accused likely today
Identification parade of a migrant labourer, prime accused in the killing of a 30-year-old Dalit woman in Perumbavoor here, is likely to be held today, police sources said.
The identification parade of accused Ameerul Islam is expected to be held at Kakkanad sub-jail, where he has been lodged after a magistrate court in Perumbavoor remanded him into 14-days judicial custody on Friday, they said.
The 23-year-old Islam, hailing from Dholda Gramam in Assam's Nauga district, was arrested on June 16 for killing the law student, 50 days after the gruesome incident, that had become a major issue in the recent Kerala Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, a team of officials who were part of the Special Investigation Team probing the murder on Sunday visited Islam's residence in Assam to gather more evidences against him.
The woman who hailed from a poor family, was raped and brutally assaulted using sharp-edged weapons before being murdered at her house on April 28. Over 100 police personnel, who had launched a scientific investigation into the incident, had questioned over 1,500 people.
08:13 Campaigning for Anantnag bypoll to end today
The low-key campaigning for bypoll to Anantnag Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir, from where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is contesting, will end today.
Mehbooba has only held a few meetings as part of her campaign to retain the seat for her party. Her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had won the seat in 2014.
His death on January 7 this year necessitated the by-election.
She is banking on the support extended by the people of the south Kashmir region to her Peoples Democratic Party since it came into existence in 1998.
The chief minister has not conducted any major rallies and is relying this time on some of the "trusted aides" to connect with the voters.
Roads and Buildings Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri, a trusted lieutenant of the Muftis, and Sartaj Madni -- Mehbooba's maternal uncle -- are camping in Anantnag to oversee the electioneering. PDP chief spokesperson Mehboob Beg, who has represented Anantnag twice in the past on National Conference ticket, will also be a key factor.
08:12 Rajan's exit: Sebi, exchanges beef up surveillance
Regulator Sebi and stock exchanges have beefed up their surveillance and risk management mechanism to ring-fence capital markets from any excessive volatility today on account of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's surprise decision against a second term.
Banks and forex dealers are also gearing up to meet any excessive money demand, especially for dollar, on concerns that Rajan's eventual exit this September could trigger capital outflows amid jitters among foreign investors.
Maintaining that the Indian capital markets have a robust risk management and surveillance mechanism in place, senior officials said they have beefed up the systems to check any adverse eventuality.
The regulator and the bourses would also keep a strict vigil for manipulators looking to exploit the volatile trends expected in stocks and derivatives, including those linked to rupee's movement against other foreign currencies, they added.
Besides, brokers, portfolio managers and other market intermediaries would be under a close watch for any attempts to lure small retail investors into promises of hefty gains from the futures and options trading, especially in banking stocks and indices.
According to officials, the financial market regulators, including RBI itself, were already bracing up for volatile trends ahead of the Brexit referendum this week, but Rajan's sudden announcement over the weekend has added to the worry.
08:03
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