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Sat, 14 May 2016
Pravin Togadia's brother hacked to death in Gujarat
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23:46 Pravin Togadia's brother hacked to death in Gujarat
Bharat Togadia, the cousin of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia, along with two others were on Saturday stabbed to death by unidentified men, in Surat's Varachha area.
According to reports, four people were attacked, of which three succumbed to their injuries and the condition of the fourth person is said to be critical.
Further details are awaited.
According to reports, four people were attacked, of which three succumbed to their injuries and the condition of the fourth person is said to be critical.
Further details are awaited.
23:26
JUST IN: Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia's cousin Bharat Togadia, along with two others, stabbed to death by unidentified men in Surat's Varachha area.
22:54 Man who lodged case against PM for insulting national flag claims assault
A man, who has filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly 'insulting' the national flag, today told a Delhi court that he was recently assaulted and warned not to pursue the case.
Complainant Ashish Sharma, who has sought registration of a first information report against the prime minister, recorded the pre-summoning evidence before metropolitan magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria in the complaint.
The court has now fixed the matter for July 30.
'...on May 11, 2016, about mid-night, an attempt to kill took place near my house and I was warned that if I do not stop the complaint, I will soon be dead,' Sharma said.
'On that day (international yoga day), the PM was wearing the tricolour which is the national flag of India. The PM cleaned his face and sweat of his body all over and clean his nose as well, he wiped his face with national flag in front of the world... All the media worldwide as well as Indian Media took photos of the PM insulting our national flag,' Sharma said.
He claimed Modi insulted the flag more than 20 times.
'I strongly believe that PM knows the Constitution of India and the act of insulting the Indian national flag, I am sure that the PM did insult to our national national flag knowingly, willingly and intentionally,' he said.
During the proceedings, Sharma also submitted a list of witnesses to be called for in the case.
The court had on April 6 taken cognisance of the complaint against the prime minister in the case.
Complainant Ashish Sharma, who has sought registration of a first information report against the prime minister, recorded the pre-summoning evidence before metropolitan magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria in the complaint.
The court has now fixed the matter for July 30.
'...on May 11, 2016, about mid-night, an attempt to kill took place near my house and I was warned that if I do not stop the complaint, I will soon be dead,' Sharma said.
'On that day (international yoga day), the PM was wearing the tricolour which is the national flag of India. The PM cleaned his face and sweat of his body all over and clean his nose as well, he wiped his face with national flag in front of the world... All the media worldwide as well as Indian Media took photos of the PM insulting our national flag,' Sharma said.
He claimed Modi insulted the flag more than 20 times.
'I strongly believe that PM knows the Constitution of India and the act of insulting the Indian national flag, I am sure that the PM did insult to our national national flag knowingly, willingly and intentionally,' he said.
During the proceedings, Sharma also submitted a list of witnesses to be called for in the case.
The court had on April 6 taken cognisance of the complaint against the prime minister in the case.
22:17
JUST IN: The Election Commission directs that polls in Aravakurichi constituency of Tamil Nadu shall now be taken on May 23 (Monday), instead of May 16, 2016
22:00 EC issues notices to Jaya, Karunanidhi over manifesto promises
The Election Commission has issued notice to general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam J Jayalalithaa and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi, based on complaints alleging that certain promises made in the manifestos of their parties are against guidelines.
The EC has given both the Dravidian parties time till 5 pm tomorrow to explain their stand on the same.
The AIADMK released its manifesto on Thursday, promising a slew of freebies, assuring mobile phone to all ration card holders, free 100 units of power and Wi-Fi in public places if it was voted to power for another term.
The DMK manifesto also promised cell phones at subsidised rates and 10GB free Internet for students if voted to power.
The EC has given both the Dravidian parties time till 5 pm tomorrow to explain their stand on the same.
The AIADMK released its manifesto on Thursday, promising a slew of freebies, assuring mobile phone to all ration card holders, free 100 units of power and Wi-Fi in public places if it was voted to power for another term.
The DMK manifesto also promised cell phones at subsidised rates and 10GB free Internet for students if voted to power.
20:54 4 tyres of Lufthansa flight burst at Mumbai airport, passengers safe
Over 160 passengers and crew on board a Lufthansa flight from Munich to Mumbai had a providential escape after all four back tyres of the Airbus aircraft were damaged while landing at the Mumbai airport.
The 163 passengers on board the Airbus A330 flight were deplaned through stairs and none of them were hurt, the airline said.
The incident, that took place on Friday night, forced the Mumbai airport to shift the operations to the secondary runway, leading to cancellation of many international flights besides delays.
While the aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation has initiated a probe into the incident, experts say the damage to the tyres could have been caused either by manual braking or landing at a speed higher than the prescribed limit.
Besides the four tyres at the back of the aircraft, there are two in front.
"It can't be a tyre issue. It is next to impossible that all four rear tyres of the aircraft get damaged at the same time. In this case, prima facie, it appears to be either a snag in the braking system or the pilot landing at an unusually high speed," a former DGCA official said.
He also ruled out any possibility of the incident occurring due to any problem in the runway surface. There has not been any instances of such an accident being reported in the country in recent memory though aviation industry officials said such accidents are not very rare.
The 163 passengers on board the Airbus A330 flight were deplaned through stairs and none of them were hurt, the airline said.
The incident, that took place on Friday night, forced the Mumbai airport to shift the operations to the secondary runway, leading to cancellation of many international flights besides delays.
While the aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation has initiated a probe into the incident, experts say the damage to the tyres could have been caused either by manual braking or landing at a speed higher than the prescribed limit.
Besides the four tyres at the back of the aircraft, there are two in front.
"It can't be a tyre issue. It is next to impossible that all four rear tyres of the aircraft get damaged at the same time. In this case, prima facie, it appears to be either a snag in the braking system or the pilot landing at an unusually high speed," a former DGCA official said.
He also ruled out any possibility of the incident occurring due to any problem in the runway surface. There has not been any instances of such an accident being reported in the country in recent memory though aviation industry officials said such accidents are not very rare.
20:31 Pak to move UN against Jamaat leaders' execution by Bangladesh
Pakistan has pledged to raise the issue of executions of Jamaat-i-Islami leaders in Bangladesh at United Nations forums, including its Human Rights Council.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz gave the details in this regard to the members of the Senate were given details in this regard.
Condemning the Bangladesh executions, Aziz asked Dhaka to reconsider its policy 'not just in the interest of other Muslim countries, but also its own', reports the Express Tribune.
Aziz said that the hangings were 'in sheer violation of a 1974 agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh'.
He urged the international community to take notice of human rights violation in Bangladesh.
Pak senators praised Turkey for recalling its envoy from Bangladesh in protest and recommended that Pakistan should follow suit.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz gave the details in this regard to the members of the Senate were given details in this regard.
Condemning the Bangladesh executions, Aziz asked Dhaka to reconsider its policy 'not just in the interest of other Muslim countries, but also its own', reports the Express Tribune.
Aziz said that the hangings were 'in sheer violation of a 1974 agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh'.
He urged the international community to take notice of human rights violation in Bangladesh.
Pak senators praised Turkey for recalling its envoy from Bangladesh in protest and recommended that Pakistan should follow suit.
20:26 Jawan killed while protecting sister from molesters
An Army jawan was killed while trying to protect his cousin sister from being allegedly molested by a group of people, in north Maharashtra's Dhule district, police said today.
The jawan, Vinod Pawar, was on leave and had arrived at his native place Sayyadnagar in Sakri tehsil, they said.
A group of around 10 people yesterday allegedly tried to molest his sister when Pawar intervened and tried to protect her following which the group attacked him with knives, a police officer said.
The assault was so severe that he died soon yesterday, police said.
Eight of the alleged assailants, including kingpin Dnyaneshwar Rathod, have been arrested, they added.
The jawan, Vinod Pawar, was on leave and had arrived at his native place Sayyadnagar in Sakri tehsil, they said.
A group of around 10 people yesterday allegedly tried to molest his sister when Pawar intervened and tried to protect her following which the group attacked him with knives, a police officer said.
The assault was so severe that he died soon yesterday, police said.
Eight of the alleged assailants, including kingpin Dnyaneshwar Rathod, have been arrested, they added.
19:13 250 TN voters summoned for accepting cash for votes
Summons were today issued to about 250 voters here for allegedly accepting cash for votes in the upcoming state assembly polls, police said.
The summons were issued under Section 160 of the People's Representation Act, 1951, and they were asked to give explanation by appearing in person on May 18, district superintendent of police Vijayendra S Bidari said.
Meanwhile, 18 persons belonging to various political parties were arrested in Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Theni districts and Rs 5.17 lakh was seized from them which was meant for distribution to voters, police said.
Cases were registered against 14 persons for distribution of money to voters today, under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 171(E) (punishment for bribery), a release from the city police said.
So far 355 cases for violation of Model Code of Conduct have been registered, it said.
The summons were issued under Section 160 of the People's Representation Act, 1951, and they were asked to give explanation by appearing in person on May 18, district superintendent of police Vijayendra S Bidari said.
Meanwhile, 18 persons belonging to various political parties were arrested in Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Theni districts and Rs 5.17 lakh was seized from them which was meant for distribution to voters, police said.
Cases were registered against 14 persons for distribution of money to voters today, under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 171(E) (punishment for bribery), a release from the city police said.
So far 355 cases for violation of Model Code of Conduct have been registered, it said.
18:57 Bengal BJP chief questions Jadavpur varsity girls' 'character'
West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party president Dilip Ghosh said on Saturday called female students of Jadavpur University 'shameless' for participating in a protest against screening of a film. A few girl students have filed molestation complaints against members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, BJP's student wing.
"If women are so concerned about their safety, why do they shamelessly participate in every protest," Ghosh was quoted as saying by ANI.
Ghosh also termed the allegations against ABVP members 'baseless' while questioning the 'character' of female students who were allegedly molested.
On Monday too, during a counter-rally organised by the supporters of ABVP, the wing secretary had threatened to chop off students' legs if they dared to step out of the university.
"If women are so concerned about their safety, why do they shamelessly participate in every protest," Ghosh was quoted as saying by ANI.
Ghosh also termed the allegations against ABVP members 'baseless' while questioning the 'character' of female students who were allegedly molested.
On Monday too, during a counter-rally organised by the supporters of ABVP, the wing secretary had threatened to chop off students' legs if they dared to step out of the university.
18:17 Rape accused Goa MLA moves for bail
Expelled Congress MLA Atanasio Monserratte, accused of buying and raping a minor girl, today moved a bail application before the Goa Children's court in Panaji.
The former education minister stated in the plea that prima facie there is no case against him.
'The applicant states that police have falsely applied penal offences to the case against the applicant, which are not attracted at all to the facts. He states that sections have been fraudulently applied pursuant to the 'political conspiracy' against the applicant,' the petition filed on behalf of Monserratte by his wife, Jeniffer, read.
The accused said that all the allegations made against him are 'false', and the alleged minor girl has come up with an 'imaginary story' of indirectly suggesting that she was drugged and abused at his farm house in Taleigao in the state.
'The applicant states that he could never have met the alleged minor girl or been in her company either on March 6 or March 8, 2016, because the said days were election and counting days of the recently concluded Panaji Municipal Corporation elections,' the plea further read.
The former education minister stated in the plea that prima facie there is no case against him.
'The applicant states that police have falsely applied penal offences to the case against the applicant, which are not attracted at all to the facts. He states that sections have been fraudulently applied pursuant to the 'political conspiracy' against the applicant,' the petition filed on behalf of Monserratte by his wife, Jeniffer, read.
The accused said that all the allegations made against him are 'false', and the alleged minor girl has come up with an 'imaginary story' of indirectly suggesting that she was drugged and abused at his farm house in Taleigao in the state.
'The applicant states that he could never have met the alleged minor girl or been in her company either on March 6 or March 8, 2016, because the said days were election and counting days of the recently concluded Panaji Municipal Corporation elections,' the plea further read.
17:45 Yogi terms Sadhvis arrest a 'treason committed by Congress'
Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Yogi Adityanath today welcomed the acquittal of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and accused the Congress of committing 'treason' for its role in her arrest.
"The role of Congress in her (Sadhvi Pragya's) arrest was nothing short of treason... what the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and Maharashtra ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) did in the investigations of Samjhauta Express explosion is also not less than treason," he told reporters.
The Gorakhpur MP also objected to the term 'saffron terrorism coined by the Congress' and demanded a public apology by the party for it. To a question on the murder of a journalist in Bihar, Adityanath said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should concentrate on law and order of his state instead of coming and issuing statements in Uttar Pradesh.
"People in Bihar voted him (Nitish) to power in the name of sushasan (good governance) but crime is on the rise in the state and professional mafia elements are getting support from the ruling party," he added.
"The role of Congress in her (Sadhvi Pragya's) arrest was nothing short of treason... what the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and Maharashtra ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) did in the investigations of Samjhauta Express explosion is also not less than treason," he told reporters.
The Gorakhpur MP also objected to the term 'saffron terrorism coined by the Congress' and demanded a public apology by the party for it. To a question on the murder of a journalist in Bihar, Adityanath said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should concentrate on law and order of his state instead of coming and issuing statements in Uttar Pradesh.
"People in Bihar voted him (Nitish) to power in the name of sushasan (good governance) but crime is on the rise in the state and professional mafia elements are getting support from the ruling party," he added.
16:26 13 IEDs seized in Jharkhand
Thirteen Improvised Explosive Devices were today recovered during a search operation by security forces in Doripundra forest of Latehar district, police said.
The explosive materials and nine pieces of iron rods were recovered during the search operation carried out by CRPF and district police, Superintendent of Police Anup Birtheray said.
15:42 Jaya writes to PM Modi over demolition of church by SL
amil Nadu Chief Minister on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over reports indicating that the Sri Lankan Government plans to demolish and reconstruct the ancient St Anthonys Church on the island of Katchatheevu, which holds great significance by Tamil fishermen who have been visiting the church since centuries.
In the letter, she states that the fishermen who mostly belong to the Roman Catholic faith are extremely concerned that they have not been consulted regarding the proposed reconstruction.
15:13 Sunanda case: Swamy writes to Home Minister for setting up SIT
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has sought Home Minister Rajnath Singh's intervention in setting up a court-monitored SIT to take forward the probe into mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
In a letter to Singh, Swamy was severely critical of the Delhi police alleging that it was dragging its feet even on elementary steps necessary in criminal investigation when it has been established that poison was found in her body and she died an unnatural death.
The Rajya Sabha member, who has been pushing for speedy investigation into the case and had targeted Tharoor, said it was the duty of the police to take the probe to its logical conclusion but the investigators are yet to move anywhere near filing a charge sheet.
14:27 Subramanian Swamy invited by Chinese think tank to visit Tibet
Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has been invited by a Chinese think tank to meet top officials of the Chinese government and visit Tibet, the BJP leader said today.
Swamy will also address a university audience there at the invitation of Institute of Foreign Affairs, a think tank of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A statement issued by his office said here that besides visiting Tibet, he will also be taken to Kailash Mansarovar as a guest of the Chinese government. "He has been vising China since 1978 and was instrumental in initiating thaw in relations between the two countries," the statement said.
14:08 Aditya Sachdeva murder: Police assures family of speedy trial
A high-level state police team today met the family of Aditya Sachdeva, who was shot dead allegedly by JD-U MLC Manorama Devi's son in a road rage incident, and assured them of a speedy trial.
Patna Zonal Inspector General N H Khan, Magadh Range DIG Saurabh Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Garima Mallik paid a visit to the victim's family to assure them of police action in the case. The slain youth's father, Shyam Sundar Sachdeva, and mother, Chanda Sachdeva, had expressed dissatisfaction over the probe and had said the case was progressing at a tardy pace.
After the meeting, Khan told reporters that the father and other family members expressed satisfaction over the action taken by Gaya police in the case. Police have gathered sufficient evidence against the accused, which would be helpful in getting them convicted by the court, Khan said.
14:00 Trucks with Rs 570 crore cash stopped in Tamil Nadu
The Election Commission on Saturday morning stopped three trucks purportedly transferring Rs. 570 crores in poll-bound Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district.
Though the trucks have not been opened yet, it is reported that the cash belonged to State Bank of India and is being transported to Vijayawada. The Election Commission has formed an investigating committee to look into the matter.
"The container has not yet been opened, but the matter is being looked into. A container, purportedly transferring 195 crores for bank from Coimbatore to Vijaywada has been stopped," Rajesh Lakhoni, the Chief Election Officer of Tamil Nadu, told ANI.
13:46 UN official lauds India's move to tackle abuse by peacekeepers
A top UN official has lauded efforts undertaken by India and other nations in designating focal points to facilitate paternity and child support claims in case of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against peacekeepers. Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare told the General Assembly that India, Benin, Ecuador and Uruguay, though not necessarily facing paternity allegations, have taken steps to designate national paternity focal points and expressed hope that other nations will follow the example.
Against the backdrop of challenges being faced and progress being made to end the exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, Khare yesterday said priority must be for the organisation to provide victims with support and assistance.
In 2015, the UN made progress in facilitating paternity and child support claims against peacekeepers, underlining that the practice of designating national paternity focal points helps to address some of the challenges for a victim in bringing claims in the country of nationality of the alleged father, he said.
13:06
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is scheduled to interact with Women media persons at the Indian Womens' Press Corps in New Delhi on Monday.
Jaitley is expected to announce an important political decision of the Narendra Modi government. About 150 women journalists have so far registered for this interaction. An important event of IWPC -- at least 50 TV news channels have sought live telecast permission from the IWPC.
The event will start at 1130 am on Monday, followed by lunch at 1:30 pm according to the office bearer of IWPC
12:45 Pak n-scientist's kin linked to offshore firm in Panama Papers
Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan's family has been caught in the Panama Papers row as the documents name his four close relatives as owners of an offshore company in the Bahamas.
Khan's brother Abdul Quyuim Khan, wife Hendrina, and two daughters Dina Khan and Ayesha Khan, are all shown as owners of Wahdat Ltd, a company registered in the Bahamas, the Dawn reported today. Although the names are not part of the data released online by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Wahdat Ltd does appear on the website.
However, it has been named in the larger database obtained by the group. The company was registered in January of 1998, months before the nuclear tests of May that year, and deregistered on December 31, 1999, shortly after the October 12 coup.
"I have never even heard the name of this company," the paper quoted Khan as saying. "Neither did my wife and daughters. My brother, who died a few years ago, was with Habib Bank and, as you know, bankers are always up to their tricks and hanky panky," he said, without mincing words.
12:33 Doctor shot dead at clinic in New Delhi
A 61-year-old doctor was shot dead at his clinic in south-west Delhi's Palam area by an unidentified assailant, police said today.
The victim has been identified as Balwant Singh, a general physician, who has a clinic at Palam village.
Singh was getting some renovation done in his single-room clinic and as he was about to leave for home after the workers left at around 10 PM yesterday, a person approached him, fired a round and fled, a senior police official said.
Police teams rushed to the spot and a case of murder was registered. Efforts are on to nab the accused, DCP (Southwest) Surender Kumar said.
12:03 Patnaik seeks PM Modi's intervention to save Shri Jagannath temple
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal intervention to save the Shri Jagannath temple, the 12th century shrine, before any unfortunate incident takes place.
In a letter to the prime minister, Patnaik said that the condition of the Jagmohan structure of the temple (the prayer hall) is alarming and needs emergency structural intervention to avoid any accidental failure.
Accusing the ASI of delaying the repair work, Patnaik pointed out that a technical committee, constituted by the Archaeological Survey of India that visited the temple, had recommended supporting the temple with a stainless steel frame structure.
11:29 US media watchdog seeks probe into killing of journalists
A US-based media watchdog today called for an investigation into the brutal killings of two journalists in Bihar and Jharkhand this week.
"While police investigations into the murders of journalists are welcome, investigations without arrests or tough prison sentences for the killers send the wrong message," Committee to Protect Journalist's Asia program senior research associate Sumit Galhotra said in a statement. Rajdeo Ranjan, Bihar's Siwan district chief of Hindi daily "Hindustan", was shot dead last evening when he was going on his motorcycle near a fruit market.
Ranjan, 45, died on the way to hospital. His killing came less than 24 hours after Akhilesh Pratap Singh, 35, a journalist of a news channel, was gunned down by unidentified men at Dewaria in Chatra district in Jharkhand.
"India's abysmal record of prosecuting those who kill journalists is fostering an increasingly dangerous climate for the media," Galhotra said.
11:27 Indian artist wins award at UN poster contest on N-disarmament
A 22-year-old Indian artist is among the three winners of a UN poster competition aimed at raising awareness about nuclear disarmament, with her poster of a peace dove slicing through a nuclear weapon garnering appreciation from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Anjali Chandrashekar, a New York-based designer and "artivist", won the third prize in UN Poster for Peace contest presented by the UN Office for Disarmament Affair to raise awareness of the need for nuclear disarmament.
Titled 'Cutting Barriers through Peace', the poster features a peace dove slicing through a nuclear weapon. Another poster 'Break Free' by the Chennai girl, that shows doves flying out of a bird cage at the top of a nuclear weapon, received an honorable mention.
11:05 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan makes heads turn at Cannes 2016
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan dazzled the red carpet at Festival De Cannes wearing a studded champagne coloured couture gown by Kuwait's designer Ali Younes.
The 42-year-old actress, who made her debut at Cannes in 2002, is celebrating 15 years of representing India and L'Oreal at the French Riviera. The beauty queen made her opening appearance of 2016 as she arrived for the screening of the film "Ma loute" (Slack Bay) at the 69th Cannes Film Festival. Aishwarya experimented with a metallic sheath overlaid by a sparkly floor-length cape.
She added a dash of oomph to her look with a bright turquoise blue liner, complementing with blue eyeshadow and bold lashes. She styled her hair in loose waves. The actress left for Cannes on Thursday with daughter Aaradhya and mother Brinda Rai.
10:39 PM Modi to address valedictory session of Vichar Mahakumbh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session of the three-day event of the International Vichar Mahakumbh on Saturday, which would conclude today at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.
"Leaving for Ujjain, where I will join International Convention on Universal Message of Simhasth. Looking forward. @Simhasth @SimhasthConf," he tweeted.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will be the guest of honour.
Apart from Prime Minister Modi and Sri Lankan president Sirisena, representatives of five countries and chief ministers of four states will also attend the valedictory session.
09:51 Campaign for TN polls ends today
The nearly two month-long gruelling campaigning in peak summer for the May 16 Tamil Nadu assembly election that is witnessing a multi-cornered contest comes to an end today.
More than 5.79 crore voters in 234 assembly constituencies will decide the fate of 3,776 aspirants, including four Chief Ministerial candidates -- incumbent J Jayalalithaa of AIADMK, DMK's M Karunanidhi, DMDK's Vijayakant and Anbumani Ramadoss of PMK.
The curtains will come down on campaign at 5 PM today, giving the leaders a breather from the hectic and punishing schedule during which they criss crossed the length and breadth of the state wooing the voters.
Tamil Nadu is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with AIADMK, DMK, PWF-DMDK-TMC combine, BJP-led alliance and PMK in the fray. Jayalalithaa is seeking a record second successive term in office in the state, where elections have dethroned the ruling party in the recent decades.
09:17 Court to consider chargesheet against Pachauri today
A court in New Delhi will consider filing a charge-sheet today against environmentalist R.K. Pachauri who is embroiled in charges of sexually harassing a colleague in The Energy and Resources Institute.
Earlier, Delhi Police has charge-sheeted the former executive chairman of TERI under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment, stalking, criminal intimidation and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
The police have cited around 23 prosecution witnesses and several SMS texts, e-mails and WhatsApp messages exchanged between the accused and victim as evidence to support their case.
09:04 Rajya Sabha session ends, 19 hours lost due to disruptions
The session of Rajya Sabha came to an end on Friday after passing 12 bills and wasting 19 hours due to disruptions over various issues like imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand and AgustaWestland helicopter deal controversy.
The session, which began on April 25, was adjourned sine die after bidding farewell to 53 retiring members on the last day.In his valedictory address, Chairman Hamid Ansari said the session was "short and challenging" and that the members had "shown an extraordinary ability to debate and dissent, to accommodate and differ amid their political compulsions and ideological positions".
See the graphic
09:00 India ready for NSG membership: US
The United States has said that India meets the missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
State Department Spokesman John Kirby said in Washington last night that US President Barack Obama, during his visit to India in 2015, had said that India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for NSG membership.
Kirby's remarks came in response to a question on reports that China and Pakistan have joined hands to oppose India becoming a member of the NSG.Defending its move to block India's entry into the NSG, China yesterday claimed that several members of the 48-nation bloc shared its view that signing of the NPT is an important standard for the NSG's expansion.
04:17 Obama admn tells schools to allow transgender bathroom access
Asserting that there is no room for discrimination, the Obama Administration today issued a new set of guidelines to schools asking them to allow transgender students to use bathroom facilities matching their gender identity.
"There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex," said Attorney General Loretta E Lynch, after she issued the guidelines along with the Education Secretary John B King.
This guidance gives administrators, teachers and parents the tools they need to protect transgender students from peer harassment and to identify and address unjust school policies, she said.
02:17 Report: Airstrikes, intel failed to stop Paris attacks
France changed its military strategy and started airstrikes in Syria last year because of concerns months before the attacks on Paris that ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud was plotting to target a concert and take hostages, according to a French newspaper report.
The report in today's Le Parisien, citing French and Belgian intelligence material and police recordings, lists repeated occasions when authorities allegedly failed to catch Abaaoud, even though he had been considered a major threat by several European intelligence services before the November 13 attacks that left 130 dead in the French capital.
02:02 Rs 10.48 lakh cash seized from AIADMK functionary in TN
Ahead of 16 May Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, election flying squad personnel today seized Rs 10.48 lakh cash, suspected to be meant for distribution to voters, from the car of a local AIADMK functionary, police
said.
The election flying squad personnel found the cash in the car of Aythioyapattinam AIADMK union secretary A P Mani as he tried to leave his house near Yercaud in the district, they said.
As Mani could not account for the money, it was seized and later handed over to Yercaud constituency Returning Officer Sundaram, police said.
01:33 Fearing Trump, some Democrats up pressure on Sanders to exit
Democratic Party leaders are upping the pressure on Bernie Sanders to drop his presidential campaign, alarmed that his continued presence is undermining efforts to beat the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, and again win the White House.
"I don't think they think of the downside of this," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a supporter of front-runner Hillary Clinton and broker of the post-primary peace between Clinton and then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2008.
"It's actually harmful because she can't make that general-election pivot the way she should," Feinstein said.
01:22 North Korea supplied pistols to DR Congo: UN report
North Korea has supplied pistols to the Democratic Republic of Congo that ended up in the hands of Congolese peacekeepers serving in the UN mission in the Central African Republic, according to a UN report.
A panel of experts "found that pistols with characteristics similar to those produced in DPRK were issued to certain members of the FARDC (armed forces), as well as to Congolese national police that were deployed to MINUSCA," the UN mission in the Central African Republic, said the report seen by AFP today.
Congolese soldiers and police said the arms were delivered in 2014 as part of a training program of the presidential guard and special police units carried out by some 30 North Korean instructors.
01:11 India is ready for NSG membership: US
Amid reports that China and Pakistan are jointly opposing India's bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group membership, the US today said India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for entry into the exclusive club.
"I'd point you back to what the president said during his visit to India in 2015, where he reaffirmed that the US view was that India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for NSG membership," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference.
01:11 Airstrikes kill at least 12 in northern Syria
Suspected Syrian government airstrikes in the northern city of Idlib killed at least 12 people on today, activists said.
The strikes came as part of an intensified air campaign launched after Islamic militants, including al-Qaida fighters, seized a central Alawite village. President Bashar Assad hails from the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that has been targeted by Sunni militants throughout the civil war.
Raed Saleh, the head of a first responders group that operates in opposition-held areas, said at least 15 bodies, including those of three children, were pulled from the rubble after two airstrikes in a residential area of Idlib. He said another 38 people were wounded.
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