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Sat, 24 September 2016
Uran terror scare: Cops dismiss rumours of arrests
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23:57 Uran terror scare: Cops dismiss rumours of arrests
Terming reports of suspects being detained as 'totally false', police today asked people not to spread 'uncorroborated information' in connection with search for suspected armed persons who were spotted near the Naval base in Uran in Raigad district.
The search for the 'suspicious men' continued for the third day today even as local police reduced the number of personnel involved in the operation.
"Uran operations are still underway and there is no success so far,' Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale said in the evening.
He appealed to people not to spread 'uncorroborated information' about three suspects being detained by Panvel police at Gavhan village this afternoon, dubbing the reports as 'totally false'.
Another senior police official said the people in the photos, which were being circulated on social media, were some labourers whose identity was established by their employers.
The police also withdrew a part of the additional force which was deployed in the search operation but the elite National Security Guard commandos continue being stationed in the area.
Indian Navy which had sounded highest state of alert after the first report of sightings of the armed suspects, called off its search yesterday afternoon.
The search for the 'suspicious men' continued for the third day today even as local police reduced the number of personnel involved in the operation.
"Uran operations are still underway and there is no success so far,' Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagarale said in the evening.
He appealed to people not to spread 'uncorroborated information' about three suspects being detained by Panvel police at Gavhan village this afternoon, dubbing the reports as 'totally false'.
Another senior police official said the people in the photos, which were being circulated on social media, were some labourers whose identity was established by their employers.
The police also withdrew a part of the additional force which was deployed in the search operation but the elite National Security Guard commandos continue being stationed in the area.
Indian Navy which had sounded highest state of alert after the first report of sightings of the armed suspects, called off its search yesterday afternoon.
23:23 Army deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad; NDRF on standby
Four columns of the Army have been deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district after heavy downpour wreaked havoc in the capital and other parts of Telangana cutting off low-lying areas.
Army troops have been moved into Begumpet, Nizampet and Hakimpet areas in the city and Alwal in Ranga Reddy district to provide necessary relief, according to a Defence release.
The Army has also set up a control room at Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation office and, in coordination with the GHMC and National Disaster Response Force officials, is closely monitoring the situation round-the-clock, it said.
"Army columns are already on track to provide relief material and medical aid in slum areas of Alwal. Other columns of the Army have been kept on standby, to be deployed when required," the release added.
The Army officials had met GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy during the wee hours today and apprised the administration that their forces are prepared to swing into action as and when called for.
Also, following instructions from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, a 60-member NDRF team has been kept on the standby in the city.
Besides, the CM has ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts across the state to reach out to marooned people with necessary relief, said an official statement.
Some of the low lying areas in Hyderabad are still cutoff from the rest of the city, even as GHMC and some NGOs are offering essential food items such as milk for relief of those affected.
The CM also instructed the officials to take necessary steps to prevent spread of communicable diseases.
Also, the district administration of Rangareddy, Khammam, Warangal and Medak besides GHMC have declared holiday foreducational institutions today in view of heavy rains.
IMAGE: Army personnel arrive to help flood affected people in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo.
Army troops have been moved into Begumpet, Nizampet and Hakimpet areas in the city and Alwal in Ranga Reddy district to provide necessary relief, according to a Defence release.
The Army has also set up a control room at Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation office and, in coordination with the GHMC and National Disaster Response Force officials, is closely monitoring the situation round-the-clock, it said.
"Army columns are already on track to provide relief material and medical aid in slum areas of Alwal. Other columns of the Army have been kept on standby, to be deployed when required," the release added.
The Army officials had met GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy during the wee hours today and apprised the administration that their forces are prepared to swing into action as and when called for.
Also, following instructions from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, a 60-member NDRF team has been kept on the standby in the city.
Besides, the CM has ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts across the state to reach out to marooned people with necessary relief, said an official statement.
Some of the low lying areas in Hyderabad are still cutoff from the rest of the city, even as GHMC and some NGOs are offering essential food items such as milk for relief of those affected.
The CM also instructed the officials to take necessary steps to prevent spread of communicable diseases.
Also, the district administration of Rangareddy, Khammam, Warangal and Medak besides GHMC have declared holiday foreducational institutions today in view of heavy rains.
IMAGE: Army personnel arrive to help flood affected people in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo.
22:39 PM Modi has 'shown mirror' to Pakistan: BJP leaders
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Pakistan as 'brave', saying that the prime minister had shown 'Pakistan a mirror'.
"He has shown a mirror to the Pakistani people. Before Independence India and Pakistan were one, but today we can see the difference between India and Pakistan," said BJP leader and Minister of Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"Today, the Indian IT export has reached eight lakh crores and Pakistan is just exporting terrorism. Pakistan is the hub of terrorism, which is very unfortunate. And today, I'm proud of our Prime Minister," he added.
He said after the Uri attack the whole nation supports Prime Minister Modi and there will be no compromise with the security of the nation.
"Today, Pakistan has been told in strong words that India will not tolerate terrorism," said Prasad.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "In very clear words, the prime minister has told the world that we will not forget our martyrs and if Pakistan wants war then we are ready for war for the development of our nation."
"He also told the people of Pakistan that their leaders are misleading them and it is possible that within a few years the people themselves will stand against these leaders. The Prime Minister has said we are ready for any challenge," added Rathore.
"He has shown a mirror to the Pakistani people. Before Independence India and Pakistan were one, but today we can see the difference between India and Pakistan," said BJP leader and Minister of Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"Today, the Indian IT export has reached eight lakh crores and Pakistan is just exporting terrorism. Pakistan is the hub of terrorism, which is very unfortunate. And today, I'm proud of our Prime Minister," he added.
He said after the Uri attack the whole nation supports Prime Minister Modi and there will be no compromise with the security of the nation.
"Today, Pakistan has been told in strong words that India will not tolerate terrorism," said Prasad.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "In very clear words, the prime minister has told the world that we will not forget our martyrs and if Pakistan wants war then we are ready for war for the development of our nation."
"He also told the people of Pakistan that their leaders are misleading them and it is possible that within a few years the people themselves will stand against these leaders. The Prime Minister has said we are ready for any challenge," added Rathore.
21:54 Sharif hopes all members will attend SAARC summit in Pak
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said he hopes all members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation would attend the regional summit, amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not attend it after the terror attack in Uri.
Pakistan was making preparations for the SAARC summit, Sharif, who arrived in Islamabad after attending the United Nations General Assembly in the United States, said as he hoped that all member states would attend the meet, the News International reported.
The 19th SAARC summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad from November 9 to 10. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.
Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Recent media reports said that India may boycott the SAARC summit after the Uri terror attack which led to tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
There is, however, no official confirmation over India's decision.
Pakistan was making preparations for the SAARC summit, Sharif, who arrived in Islamabad after attending the United Nations General Assembly in the United States, said as he hoped that all member states would attend the meet, the News International reported.
The 19th SAARC summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad from November 9 to 10. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.
Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Recent media reports said that India may boycott the SAARC summit after the Uri terror attack which led to tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
There is, however, no official confirmation over India's decision.
21:50 World War II bombs found in Nagaland
Kohima police on Saturday recovered two bombs of the World War II era from PR Hill Colony here, officials said. The bombs were found from an ongoing construction site by the labourers after which the police were informed.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and the bombs were safely removed, officials said.
Meanwhile, Kohima police requested the people not to touch any suspected material while carrying out construction works and to report the matter to the police.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and the bombs were safely removed, officials said.
Meanwhile, Kohima police requested the people not to touch any suspected material while carrying out construction works and to report the matter to the police.
20:49 2 from PoK arrested for helping Uri attackers cross LoC
The Indian security forces have arrested two people of Pak-occupied Kashmir who worked as a guide for terrorists infiltrating India.
The two men belong to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. They have been arrested on charges of acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control in Uri, ANI reported.
They helped the terrorists cross LoC who attacked an Indian army base in Uri last Sunday, killing 18 soldiers.
The four terrorists killed in Uri also belonged to JeM.
More details are awaited.
The two men belong to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. They have been arrested on charges of acting as guides for infiltrating groups along the Line of Control in Uri, ANI reported.
They helped the terrorists cross LoC who attacked an Indian army base in Uri last Sunday, killing 18 soldiers.
The four terrorists killed in Uri also belonged to JeM.
More details are awaited.
20:36 Army Commander reviews operational preparedness in Jammu, Pathankot
In the wake of the Uri attack, Western Army Commander Lt Gen Surinder Singh today reviewed the operational preparedness of the Army in Jammu and Pathankot regions and emphasised on ensuring fool proof security measures.
The General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Western Command reviewed the operational preparedness of the Army in the Jammu-Pathankot region and emphasised on ensuring fool proof security measures, a Defense spokesman said.
"He visited the forward areas in Jammu, Samba and Pathankot where he interacted with field commanders and troops in the area and appreciated the efforts of Army units and formation.
"He reiterated the need to maintain a high order of operational preparedness and alertness," the spokesman said.
Lt Gen Singh also visited Headquarter Northern Command and interacted with Lieutenant General DS Hooda, the GOC-in-C of the Northern Command. On September 20, the Western Army Commander had also visited border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
The General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Western Command reviewed the operational preparedness of the Army in the Jammu-Pathankot region and emphasised on ensuring fool proof security measures, a Defense spokesman said.
"He visited the forward areas in Jammu, Samba and Pathankot where he interacted with field commanders and troops in the area and appreciated the efforts of Army units and formation.
"He reiterated the need to maintain a high order of operational preparedness and alertness," the spokesman said.
Lt Gen Singh also visited Headquarter Northern Command and interacted with Lieutenant General DS Hooda, the GOC-in-C of the Northern Command. On September 20, the Western Army Commander had also visited border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
19:48 Pak to approach Interpol for extradition of Bugti
Pakistan has said it will approach Interpol for the extradition of Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti who has sought political asylum in India, a media report said.
The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti.
"The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.
Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an 'official sponsor of terrorism'.
Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi.
His application seeking political asylum was received by the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it.
Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006.
Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.
The Pakistan government has decided to write to Interpol for the extradition of Bugti.
"The Federal Investigation Agency will send a formal reference to Interpol within the next few days for the extradition of Brahamdagh Bugti," interior minister Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.
Pakistan yesterday warned India that by granting asylum to Bugti, it will become an 'official sponsor of terrorism'.
Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi.
His application seeking political asylum was received by the Union Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it.
Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. He is the grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader killed by the Pakistan army in 2006.
Pakistan government had blamed India for helping Bugti flee Pakistan to Geneva in 2010 via Afghanistan.
18:58 PM's message to Pak, let's fight to remove poverty, illiteracy
In a strong attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Kozhikode today that leaders of Pakistan 'deliver speeches written by terrorists'.
'Talking to the people of Pakistan directly,' the PM said, "Ask you leaders why one of the two countries, which got independence together, exports software, while the other exports terrorism. Ask your leaders why they talk of Kashmir when they can't even hold the areas like PoK, Balochistan, Gilgit which are with them."
"Leaders of neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1000 years, but where are they lost now. They say that we'll fight with India for 50 years, I accept your challenge. Let's fight. But let's fight to remove poverty, let's fight to remove unemployment. Let's see who abolishes poverty first, let's see who abolishes illiteracy first. Let's see who goes ahead with this fight," the PM said in a strong message to Pakistan.
"In the last few months, our neighbour tried to destroy our country by exporting terrorists more than 17 times but our army defeated them .More than 110 terrorists killed in the past few months by Indian army as they were trying to infiltrate," the PM said.
'Talking to the people of Pakistan directly,' the PM said, "Ask you leaders why one of the two countries, which got independence together, exports software, while the other exports terrorism. Ask your leaders why they talk of Kashmir when they can't even hold the areas like PoK, Balochistan, Gilgit which are with them."
"Leaders of neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1000 years, but where are they lost now. They say that we'll fight with India for 50 years, I accept your challenge. Let's fight. But let's fight to remove poverty, let's fight to remove unemployment. Let's see who abolishes poverty first, let's see who abolishes illiteracy first. Let's see who goes ahead with this fight," the PM said in a strong message to Pakistan.
"In the last few months, our neighbour tried to destroy our country by exporting terrorists more than 17 times but our army defeated them .More than 110 terrorists killed in the past few months by Indian army as they were trying to infiltrate," the PM said.
18:42 PM slams Pak in Kerala address, says India will never forget Uri attack
Lashing out at the 'neighbouring' country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first public address since the terrorist attack in Uri, said that wherever terrorism is happening across Asia, the affected nations are blaming only one country, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. Excerpts from his ongoing address:
- Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. Theres anger in entire country post Uri attack.18 of our soldiers sacrificed their life after our neighbour exported terrorists there.
- Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. We need to join our hands to defeat terrorism.
- Whenever news about terrorism comes, news also comes either the terrorist came from there or like Osama went there after the act: PM Modi
- India will never bow down to terrorism and will strive to defeat it. Terrorists should clearly hear out that India will never forget the Uri attack.
- Our 18 soldiers had to sacrifice their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. Theres anger in entire country post Uri attack.18 of our soldiers sacrificed their life after our neighbour exported terrorists there.
- Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. We need to join our hands to defeat terrorism.
- Whenever news about terrorism comes, news also comes either the terrorist came from there or like Osama went there after the act: PM Modi
- India will never bow down to terrorism and will strive to defeat it. Terrorists should clearly hear out that India will never forget the Uri attack.
18:31 One nation is 'exporting terrorism everywhere': PM in Kerala
Addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said theres only one country in Asia which 'exporting terrorism everywhere', in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
Without naming Pak, he said, "All countries in Asia is working forward to make sure that 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century except one country. There is one nation in Asia whose aim is this century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. Question is not only about India, everywhere this is one country which is exporting terrorism everywhere."
He also mentioned the Central government's efforts to bringing back nurses from Kerala from war-hit Gulf countries.
Without naming Pak, he said, "All countries in Asia is working forward to make sure that 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century except one country. There is one nation in Asia whose aim is this century does not become Asia's and is associated with terrorism. Question is not only about India, everywhere this is one country which is exporting terrorism everywhere."
He also mentioned the Central government's efforts to bringing back nurses from Kerala from war-hit Gulf countries.
18:23
Excerpts from PM's address in Kozhikode:
When we think of Kerala, we think of God's Own Country, it has an impression of purity and holiness.
When I visited gulf countries recently, I wanted to meet my people from Kerala living there.
Thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, Deendayal Upadhyaya have helped shape our countrys politics in the last century.
Our government is focused on upliftment of poor, downtrodden people of our country.
Jan Sangh and BJP karyakartas from Kerala have seen and faced so much. Today too, party isnt in power here but they continue serving.
I want to assure the BJP/ RSS workers in Kerala that your hard work and sacrifice will not go in vain and one day we will succeed in forming a government in Kerala.
People of Kerala are respected throughout the world for their hard work.
When we think of Kerala, we think of God's Own Country, it has an impression of purity and holiness.
When I visited gulf countries recently, I wanted to meet my people from Kerala living there.
Thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, Deendayal Upadhyaya have helped shape our countrys politics in the last century.
Our government is focused on upliftment of poor, downtrodden people of our country.
Jan Sangh and BJP karyakartas from Kerala have seen and faced so much. Today too, party isnt in power here but they continue serving.
I want to assure the BJP/ RSS workers in Kerala that your hard work and sacrifice will not go in vain and one day we will succeed in forming a government in Kerala.
People of Kerala are respected throughout the world for their hard work.
18:03 PM addresses public meeting in Kerala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the public meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala.
The PM began his address in Malayalam by greeting the people. This is his first public rally after the terrorist attack in Uri.
More to follow.
The PM began his address in Malayalam by greeting the people. This is his first public rally after the terrorist attack in Uri.
More to follow.
17:54 Amit Shah addresses BJP rally in Kozhikode
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah addresses a public meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala. Excerpts from his speech:
-Kozhikode is a sacred place for the BJP as this is the city where in 1967, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was elected as the Jana Sangh president.
-From 1967 to 2016, in these 50 years, the popularity of the BJP has immensely increased in Kerala. And we will form a government in the state after next assembly polls.
-Uplifting the poor has been our mantra always.
-I thank the people of Kerala for giving us 15 per cent votes in the last elections.
-Since the BJP and RSS have started working in Kerala, there has been spate of attacks on our workers. Some of the attacks were state-sponsored. The Kerala government is penalising people of those areas who voted for the BJP.
-The BJP workers will not be deterred by such violence, and will seek to punish -- by democratic means -- the forces behind these attacks.
-Kozhikode is a sacred place for the BJP as this is the city where in 1967, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was elected as the Jana Sangh president.
-From 1967 to 2016, in these 50 years, the popularity of the BJP has immensely increased in Kerala. And we will form a government in the state after next assembly polls.
-Uplifting the poor has been our mantra always.
-I thank the people of Kerala for giving us 15 per cent votes in the last elections.
-Since the BJP and RSS have started working in Kerala, there has been spate of attacks on our workers. Some of the attacks were state-sponsored. The Kerala government is penalising people of those areas who voted for the BJP.
-The BJP workers will not be deterred by such violence, and will seek to punish -- by democratic means -- the forces behind these attacks.
17:31
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the venue in Calicut, Kerala. He will address the public meeting shortly. Photograph: ANI
17:10 Know Sikhs, tie a turban: Tolerance campaign at Canada university campus
Racist anti-Sikh posters that appeared at the University of Alberta this week invited condemnation across Canada, including from the countrys Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister for National Defence Harjit Sajjan.
But Sikh organisations will counter this in an imaginative way next week as they hold Turban, Eh! on the campus of the University. This special event has been scheduled at the university for Tuesday and is expected to be a platform for the curious to learn not just how to tie a turban, but also know more about Sikhs, their culture and yes, turbans.
Read full story HERE
16:51
BREAKING: Number of deaths in the Washington mall shooting rise to five
16:46 Rajya Sabha MP moves private bill to declare Pak a terror state
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday submitted a private member's bill that seek to declare Pakistan a terror nation.
The MP, an independent member of the Upper House, submitted the Declaration of States as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill 2016, to Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari, expressing his intention to introduce the bill in the Winter session of the Parliament.
In the 8-page declaration, Rajeev Chandrasekhar proposes that certain states be declared as the sponsor of terrorism and that economic and trade relations with the states be withdrawn.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan propagates and harbors agents of international terror who have repeatedly attacked the territory and the people of the Republic of India and there is an urgent need to co-ordinate activities at the international and national level to ensure the best response to protect the interests of the Republic of India and its citizens, reads the declaration.
As long as Pakistan continues to harbour agents of terror, the nation poses risk to India, the MP argues.
The declaration goes on to lay down definitions for terrorist acts as well as state sponsored terrorism before laying down the prohibitions.
Read his full BILL HERE
16:31 Dalits, Patidars & Marathas rise: The political sands are shifting
The impact of these movements has the BJP breaking into a sweat, so much so that the party has had to change the chief minister in their bastion of Gujarat.
All these movements are inherently political, but go far beyond the hands of even key political parties or players.
Read full HERE
16:28
JUST IN: Jeremy Corbyn has won UK Labour Party's leadership election
16:05 Marion Cotillard's partner condemns 'stupid, unfounded' Brad Pitt rumours
Actor and director Guillaume Canet has spoken out in support of his partner Marion Cotillard after she found herself dragged into the media circus surrounding the divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
After the announcement made earlier this week that Jolie was filing for divorce from her husband of two years, there was speculation about Cotillard who is to star alongside Pitt in the upcoming film Allied and her alleged involvement in the couples divorce.
Now, her partner of nine years, Canet has hit out at the tabloid reporters who dragged Cotillards name into the story with stupid and unfounded accusations and praised the 40-year-old for remaining strong amid a week of torrid rumours.
Writing on his Instagram page in French, he said, "said: I dont usually make it a habit to comment on rumours made about us. I also dont usually talk about my private life until now. I have always protected [it] attentively. But the fury of the tabloids, the venal stupidity of some people calling themselves journalists, the haters who feel braver behind a keyboard, drive me to speak of the pride, love, respect and admiration I have for Marion staying so strong and intelligent in the face of all these stupid and unfounded accusations.
I think were all living with much more important things at the moment and now its time to move on and raise the bar a bit. Even if theres so much work for some, I want to be positive. And as Marion said so well I hope you get better and aspire to something else in your life besides constantly sending sh*t!
15:42
JUST IN: Akali Dal leader and his son, who assaulted a nurse at a hospital in Punjab's Moga, arrested
15:37 Comedian Raju Srivastav cancels Pakistan show
Saddened by the Uri terror attack, comedian Raju Srivastav has reportedly cancelled his show in Pakistan. He was apparently invited for a comedy show in our neighbouring country.
The 52-year-old artist has also extended his support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani cine and television artistes. The Raj Thackeray-led party wants Pakistani stars to quit India or face consequences.
15:14 K J George to be sworn into Karnataka cabinet on Monday
After the Karnataka CID gave a clean chit to former minister KJ George and two senior police officers in connection with the alleged suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police M K Ganapathy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will reinstated KJ George as minister in the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday.
After his reinstatement, George might be re-allotted the Bengaluru Development portfolio.
The Bengaluru MLA was forced to resign as Bengaluru minister after an FIR was filed against him.
Before hanging himself to death, Ganapathy (51) had given an interview to a local TV channel alleging that George and senior IPS officers Pranob Mohanthy and AM Prasad had harassed him, and that they were responsible for his impending suicide.
The incident had kicked up a huge storm in the state.
Although the government ordered an investigation, George had not stepped down as minister.
14:32 Uri fallout: Zee chairman mulls removing Pak shows from Zindagi channel
Amid tension in the wake of recent terror attack in Uri, Zindagi channel which is an Indian Hindi-Urdu entertainment television channel, owned by the Zee Entertainment Enterprises is considering of taking off-air all their Pakistani shows.
Subhash Chandra Goel, chairman of Essel Group and Zee Media, tweeted about the same today. In his tweet he wrote, "Unfortunate stance of Mia Sharif at UN. Zee is considering stopping Zindgi programs from Pak,as well artists from there should leave."
Earlier, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had given Pakistani actors and artistes 48 hours time to leave the country in the wake of the attacks and had threatened to stop the release of films like 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees' for having Pakistani actors like Fawad and Mahira Khan.
14:18 ISRO begins countdown for PSLV rocket's longest mission
The countdown for the launch of an Indian rocket with a weather and seven other satellites began today at rocket port Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, the Indian space agency said. This will be ISRO's longest PSLV satellite launch mission spread over two hours and fifteen minutes.
The 320 tonne PSLV rocket carrying eight satellites -- three Indian and five foreign - will blast off from the first launch pad at Sriharikota on September 26 at 9.12 am.
The rockets main cargo will be the 371 kg SCATSAT-1 for ocean and weather related studies which will be placed into a 730 km polar sun synchronous orbit around 17 minutes into the flight.
14:02 Indian Air Force successfully test fires long range air-to-air MICA missile
The Indian Air Force has successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft.
A defence ministry release said that the missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude.
"The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile. With the success of this mission, the IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such long range Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile," the IAF statement said.
The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of Indian Air Force.
13:36 Maulvi in soup for referring to Prophet as 'bhai'
Equating Prophet Muhammad with human beings, terming him as 'bhai' (brother) and calling upon others to say so has landed a maulvi belonging to Tabligh Jamaat in the soup, as Gujarat high court has upheld invoking of charge of hurting religious sentiments and ruled that he must face a trial.
As a row between orthodox Sunni Muslims following largely the Deoband school and liberal Sufi sect adhering to the Barelvi school of ideology is boiling up, comparing himself and other human beings with the Prophet led to registration of an FIR against Kari Ahmedali Hussainali Battiwala from Saraspur.
In 2009, Battiwala addressed several gatherings including one near Juhapura. His speeches did not go down well with members of the other sect. Secretary of Sunni Awami Forum, Usman Qureshi, lodged an FIR against him in March 2010 with Vejalpur police accusing him of making derogatory remarks on principles of religion and pronouncing blasphemous statements against the Prophet.
13:12 Triple suicide attack north Baghdad kills 11 troops
A provincial spokesman says a triple suicide bombing has killed at least 11 members of the security forces.
The spokesman for the Salahuddin province police force, Col Mohammed al-Jabouri, says three militants rammed their explosives-laden vehicles this morning into a check point.
Al-Jabouri added that 34 other security officers were wounded.
He said the attack occurred as the local police chief and head of the provincial security committee were visiting the site. Both escaped unharmed.
12:34 PM Modi meets service chiefs, discuss India's response to Uri attack
Army, air force chiefs along with the Vice Chief of Naval Staff met PM Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. They discussed the prevailing security situation and India's response to Uri attack.
Earlier, Modi had visited the army's war room near his South Block office chalking out New Delhi's next course of action.
According to well-placed sources, PM Modi was briefed about various terror locations in Pakistan.
The sources said that details on how terror modules operating in Pakistan could be busted were discussed at the meeting.
12:09 Baloch nationalists protest outside Pak mission over terrorism
Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistan's Consulate in US against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, abduction and killings of civilians and rape of women, protesters condemned the recent "dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack" in Uri.
Many protesters, mostly American Friends of Balochistan activists and Indian-Americans, carried placards highlighting the oppression of minorities, women and children in Pakistan and urged the US government to stop funding Pakistan.
A placard held by a soldier described Pakistan as the "Ivy League of Terrorism".
Two days ago, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world.
11:49 2 professors released from Islamic State in Libya return home
Two Telugu professors who were released from the captivity of suspected Islamic State terrorists in Libya on September 15, reached their respective homes in Hyderabad in the early hours of Saturday. Apparently, both of them are suffering from trauma.
Accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry of external affairs, the two professors -- T Gopi Krishna and C Balaram Kishan, landed at Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after midnight. Their arrival was kept so secret that even their family members were not informed about the timing of their landing. They reached their respective homes around 4 am.
The professors were abducted by suspected Islamic State terrorists at a checkpost near Sirte in Libya on July 29, 2015, along with two other Indians Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar from Karnataka. They had been teaching at the University of Sirte since 2007.
11:47 Over 20 injured in cylinder blast in Raipur
More than 20 people were injured on Saturday in a factory blast in Chhattisgarh's Raipur district. The incident occurred after a cylinder exploded at Bajrang power plant in Tilda Neora town.
The injured have been admitted to Kalda Nursing home in Raipur. Reports said the management was at fault for the tragedy.
Dr. Sunil Kalda of the Kalda Hospital said eight people are in a critical state and are in the intensive care unit.
Further details are awaited.
11:19 Why abrogation of Indus Waters Treaty sucks
Yashwant Sinha, dissident par excellence in Bharatiya Janata Party, seldom misses an opportunity to embarrass the Narendra Modi government. And the fact of the matter is that he not only has an erudite mind and is articulate but also has the wit to spot the Achilles heel of our besieged prime minister at any given time.
Read more HERE
11:06
Guess who! That's General Manekshaw with PM Indira Gandhi in 1971.
Photograph: @IndiaHistorypic/Twitter
10:50 Patient at Ranchi hospital served food on floor, staff say no plates
In one of the most disturbing visuals to surface in the middle of a debate over poor facilities in hospitals across the country, a patient eats straight from the floor of a hospital ward in Jharkhand capital Ranchi.
Palmati Devi, her right arm wrapped in bandage, ate her meal of rice, dal and vegetables from the floor on Wednesday. Ward boys allegedly first made her clean the floor, despite the fractured arm.
A patient at the orthopaedic ward, Palmati Devi didn't have her own plate and had asked for one, but was rudely told off by kitchen staff who said there were none at the large hospital that has an annual budget of Rs. 300 crore.
The man who served her food on the floor has been sacked and disposable plates have been commissioned.
10:27 Over to the real Sharif
On Wednesday, as my phone crackled almost endlessly with people asking for my assessment of what was likely to happen between India and Pakistan, I was reminded of a conversation I had in 1994 with Hizbul Mujahideen's Syed Salahuddin.
He was then of the view that India and Pakistan must have a war. When probed further about such an evil wish his response was that a war would weaken both countries but it would facilitate his HuM to fight a weak India.
Salahuddin was probably an earlier version of Dr Strangelove. There are newer versions out there who happily talk about a nuclear war scenario in which the presence of nuclear deterrence weakens New Delhi's resolve to launch a surprise attack on Pakistan. It is the understanding amongst the security community in Islamabad that New Delhi has far more to lose in risking an attack even on suspected terror camps inside Pakistan.
Read more HERE
10:18 Lata Mangeshkar to be conferred with Bengal's highest civilian honour
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is all set to confer state's highest civilian honour, the 'Banga-Bibhushan', to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Mamata announced on her Facebook page that the 86-year-old singer has accepted the proposal in a letter. "I am deeply overwhelmed by the letter of Lata Mangeshkarji, just received, conveying her kind consent to accept Banga Bibhusan, the highest civil award of Bengal. My sincere gratitude to her. We are immensely honoured," Mamata said on Facebook.
The Banga Bibhushan is to honour her contribution to Bengali music.
Mamata is expected to fly to Mumbai on October 20 to honour Mangeshkar and hand her the award.
10:02 Washington police identify shooter that killed 4 at mall
Minutes after a shooter opened fire at Cascade Mall in Burlington, in Washington state, the authorities identified the shooter and have asked people to alert the cops, saying, "The shooter is armed with a rifle."
Authorities also announced that the mall has been secured and that the shooter had made his way to the I-5 from the mall.
09:43 Petition by Indian Americans to declare Pak sponsor of terror
The Indian-American community has launched a White House petition to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, days after a bill in this regard was tabled in the US Congress by two powerful lawmakers.
"This petition is important to the people of United States of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism," the petition started on Tuesday said.
It requires at least 1,00,000 signatures to qualify for a response from the Obama Administration.
An initiative of US President Barack Obama, "We the People", the online petition service at the White House website provides a window to American citizens to campaign before the administration on a particular issue.
The move comes after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced H R 6069, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives.
09:15
The shooter at the mall has been identified as a Hispanic male wearing grey. Authorities say he was last seen walking towards the I5 from Cascade Mall, Burlington.
09:06 4 dead as gunman opens fire in Washington mall
Four people were killed in a shooting at a mall in Burlington, Washington, a spokesman for the state patrol tweeted.
Police are searching for at least one shooter, and are sweeping stores in the mall, Sergeant Mark Francis said.
Burlington is about an hour north of Seattle.
"Please avoid Cascade Mall area in Burlington," Francis said. "Follow all road closures." Francis tweeted that survivors would be transported by bus to a nearby church.
04:45 Orlando shooter said US must stop Syria bombing, reveals 911 transcript
The gunman responsible for the worst mass shooting in US history told a police negotiator during a standoff at an Orlando nightclub that the United States needed to stop bombing Syria and Iraq, according to a transcript of
the phone conversation released on Friday.
Omar Mateen identified himself to a 911 operator as the shooter at the Pulse nightclub about a half hour after the massacre started and he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.
"I want to let you know I'm in Orlando and I did the shooting," he said.
When a police negotiator called him back about a dozen minutes later, Mateen told the negotiator he needed to stop the US airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. A U led coalition has targeted Islamic State militants with airstrikes in those two countries.
"They are killing a lot of innocent people," said Mateen, a New York-born son of an Afghan immigrant. "What am I to do here when my people are getting killed over there? You get what I'm saying?"
Mateen also compared himself to Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, according to the transcripts. Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured when two bombs exploded at the marathon's finish line in 2013.
"My homeboy Tamerlan Tsarnaev did his thing on the Boston Marathon," Mateen said. "So, now it's my turn, OK?" Mateen told the negotiator that he had fasted and prayed all day since it was the Muslim holiday, Ramadan.
03:56 RPI-A supports Maratha community's demand for quota
The Republican Party of India-Athawale faction, an ally of the BJP in the Centre as well as in Maharashtra, on Friday expressed its support for demand of reservations for the Maratha community in the state.
However, on the demand of scrapping the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 by the upper caste Maratha, RPI, which mainly represents Dalits, said it can be reviewed but can not be done away with.
Mahendra Shirke, vice president of RPI-A who heads the Maratha front of the party, said the party had already condemned the rape and murder of a girl in Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district in July.
The accused in the Kopardi incident were Dalits while the girl was a Maratha.
The incident had sparked an outrage among the politically dominant Maratha community, with many 'Muk Morchas' (silent marches) of the community all over the state over the past month.
The community's main demands are scrapping of Atrocities Act and reservations for Marathas in jobs and education.
Shirke said, "There are some Maratha leaders who were in the power for a long time and are now unhappy with the BJP government in the state as well as at the Centre. Hence, they are trying to intensify such rallies to put pressure on the state government."
03:24 Obama vetoes bill allowing to sue Saudi Arabia over 9/11
President Barack Obama has vetoed the legislation that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. The bill passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate and was met with widespread public support.
Known as Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act or JASTA, the bill creates an exemption to the doctrine of sovereign immunity established by a 1976 law, thus allowing US citizens to sue foreign countries for terrorism that kills Americans on US soil.
Fifteen out of 19 men who hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to target the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 were subjects of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two were from the United Arab Emirates.
The Senate passed JASTA in May, while the House voted on it just before the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
Republican majority leaders in Congress are confident they have enough votes to override the veto.
"There will be a roll call vote on the veto override, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) told reporters on Tuesday. Our assumption is that the veto will be overridden.
02:42 162 bodies retrieved after migrant boat capsizes off Egypt
The bodies of 162 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by Friday, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.
Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira, who provided The Associated Press with the latest death toll.
He also said that the search operation is still ongoing. Many of them are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.
Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, provided the latest figures and told The Associated Press that the search operation was ongoing.
An AP reporter near the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw between 20 to 30 bodies brought in by coast guards in gray inflatable boats and fishermen in wooden boats early Friday morning and delivered to ambulances at the coast guard pier.
02:31 Twitter begins discussions to explore a sale: source
Twitter has initiated talks with several technology companies to explore selling itself, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, signaling the start of what is likely to be a slow-rolling auction of the high-profile but money-losing social media company.
A sale of Twitter has been the subject of on-again, off-again rumors for many months as the company grapples with stagnant user growth, soft advertising sales and losses running at hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
The company's business struggles have come even as the 10-year-old service has evolved into a global source of news, entertainment and social commentary.
Analysts have long considered Alphabet's Google the most likely buyer for Twitter, and a source told Reuters that Salesforce.com is also in pursuit.
CNBC, citing anonymous sources, reported on Friday that Twitter is in talks with companies including Google and Salesforce and may receive a formal bid soon.
Twitter and Alphabet did not respond to a request for comment. Salesforce declined to comment.
Verizon, another company mentioned in media reports on Friday as a possible suitor, said it did not comment on M&A rumors but that it had not submitted a bid for the company.
02:28 Resolve differences through diplomacy: US to India, Pakistan
The United States on Friday asked India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through diplomacy and not through violence.
"We have long urged India and Pakistan to find ways to resolve their differences, not through violence, but through diplomacy," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.
He was responding to a question on the death of 18 Indian soldiers at an army camp in Uri.
"I've seen some of the public reports about this incident. You know, obviously, the United States strongly condemns acts of terrorism around the world," he said.
Earnest said over the years, India and Pakistan made some important progress in that pursuit of resolving differences through diplomacy.
"And you know, we're hopeful that they'll be able to continue to make the kind of progress that will bring greater stability to what is a rather volatile region of the world," he said.
01:39 Will vote for Donald Trump, says Ted Cruz after bitter primary fight
Senator Ted Cruz said he will vote for Donald Trump on Friday after not doing so at the Republican National Convention in July.
In a Facebook post, Cruz said he decided to vote for Trump "after many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching (his) own conscience."
The senator from Texas cited two reasons for his decision. First, he wanted to honor his promise to support the Republican nominee. Cruz said the second reason is that although he has had "areas of significant disagreement" with Trump, "by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable."
01:06 'Don't shoot!' wife tells Charlotte police in video
The family of a black man fatally shot by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday released its own video of the encounter that sparked three days of protests and continued to urge officials to release their own recordings of the slaying.
The moment that a black police officer shoots Keith Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, cannot be seen in the two-minute video recorded by his wife, Rakeyia, who can be heard urging officers not to open fire on her husband.
"Don't shoot him! He has no weapon," she can be heard telling officers as they yell at Scott to "Drop the gun!" About a half-dozen gunshots can be heard in the video released to U.S. media, followed by her scream, "Did you shoot him? He better not be dead."
Scott's death was the latest in a long string of controversial killings of black people by US police that have stirred an intense debate on race and justice. A United Nations working group on Friday compared the killings to the lynching of black people by white mobs in the 19th and 20th centuries.
00:28 Not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pak in 'so-called Azad Kashmir': Russia
Russia on Friday clarified that it was not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pakistan in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in any other "sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan".
"The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian Embassy said in a statement in NEw Delhi.
"Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan antiterror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called 'Azad Kashmir' or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan," it said.
The statement assumes significance as there have been reports from Pakistan that a mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military arrived in Pakistan today to participate in the first-ever joint military drills dubbed 'Friendship-2016' starting from Saturday.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had on Thursday said that India's "sensitivities" towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia.
00:23 India blaming us without concrete evidence: Pak on Uri attack
Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Friday accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack without having any concrete evidence and ruled out any immediate cooperation with India in probing the incident.
"India itself does not have any evidence about the (Uri) attack so how will Pakistan help in carrying out any investigation," Khan said while talking to the media.
He also accused India of hurling baseless allegations against Pakistan after the attack at the army camp in Uri.
"India is responsible for levelling false accusations on us when the investigations are not even completed," he said.
Khan also ruled out any immediate cooperation with India over the attack and accused the Indian government of launching a 'malicious campaign' to defame Pakistan by prematurely blaming it for the Uri attack.
He said India imposed censorship on its media when it questioned its allegation about Pakistan.
"We did not impose any censorship on the media but they did because their propaganda was earlier exposed by their own news channels," he said.
Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.
Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault. Meanwhile,
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