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Sat, 05 September 2015
Live! Flood toll in Assam increases to 37

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23:07   G20 finance ministers against competitive currency devaluation
In a virtual disapproval of China's recent devaluation of yuan that triggered shocks in the global economy, world's 20 big economies, including India, today called for moving towards market-determined currency rates and resist from competitive devaluation. 

The G20 group of economies also expect that monetary policy tightening is possible in some advanced economies, an euphemism for a likely interest rate, especially in the US.
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22:41   More migrants on march as refugees stream into Austria
Thousands of migrants streamed into Austria from Hungary today, with another column of refugees setting out on foot as Budapest ruled out bussing any more the 175 kilometres to the border. 

Austria's interior ministry said 6,500 people had crossed the frontier since Friday night when Hungary laid on buses after images of hundreds of desperate people walking along motorways made headlines worldwide.
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21:45   Clinton: I didn't 'stop and think' about email system
Hillary Rodham Clinton says her use of a private email system at the State Department wasn't the "best choice" and acknowledged she didn't "stop and think" about her email set-up when she became President Barack Obama's secretary of state in 2009. 

The Democratic presidential front-runner said in an interview Friday with NBC News that she was immediately confronted by a number of global hotspots after joining the new Obama administration as its top diplomat and didn't think much about her email after arriving at her new job. Her use of private email has now become a distraction for her presidential campaign.
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20:37   Flood toll in Assam increases to 37
With the death of four more persons the toll in the Assam floods today increased to 37 even as the number of affected people rose to 16.5 lakh in 21 districts. 

One person each died in Darrang, Dibrugarh, Morigaon and Nalbari district taking the total in the second wave of floods in the state to 37, an Assam State Disaster Management Authority release today said. 

A release by Nalbari district administration said a one-and-half-year old boy had been claimed by the flood at Barkhetri Revenue Circle.
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20:15   Govt denies nod to Patels' Dandi march; Hardik defiant
Gujarat government today denied permission to Hardik Patel's "reverse Dandi march" over the Patel quota issue, less than a fortnight after violence erupted during his stir claiming 10 lives, but the defiant leader vowed to carry out the protest programme tomorrow. 

Navsari District Collector today refused to grant permission to Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) to take out the march from Dandi to Ahmedabad to press for their demand for inclusion of the Patel community in OBC category for reservation.
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19:23   Kalburgi murder: Author Uday Prakash to return Akademi award
Noted Hindi author Uday Prakash has decided to return Sahitya Akademi award as a mark of protest against the murder of Kannada scholar and researcher Prof M M Kalburgi. 

"Murder of Kannada researcher Prof Kalburgi has shaken me to the core. I will return the cash prize and citation to the Akademi once I reach Delhi on September 8," Prakash told PTI over phone from his native village Sitapur in Anuppur district of MP.
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18:18   Thai police seek 10th suspect in Brahma temple bombing
Thai police today said they were seeking an arrest warrant for a 10th suspect - a foreigner - in Thailand's deadliest bombing at a Brahma temple as a court approved to extend the detention by 12 days for a man who was arrested after a massive raid with bomb-making materials. 

Police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said authorities were seeking an arrest warrant for a 10th suspect, who was a foreigner but declined to reveal his nationality, the Bangkok Post reported.
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17:45   UAE pounds Yemen rebels after coalition's deadliest day
The UAE bombarded Yemeni rebels with air strikes today as it mourned 45 soldiers, among 50 killed in the deadliest day yet for a Saudi-led coalition fighting the insurgents. 

Emirati officials vowed that the deaths in a missile attack in the battleground eastern oil province of Marib would not sap their commitment to the coalition's mission to restore exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
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17:37   Ex-Maldivian president Nasheed's lawyer stabbed in Male
A lawyer for jailed former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed has been stabbed in Male in an attack by four masked men, ahead of a visit by his international legal team including human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. 

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party lawyer Mahfooz Saeed was stabbed in the head yesterday and is now out of danger after an emergency surgery at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
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16:09  
Just In: Police custody of all accused in Sheena Bora murder case extended till September 7.
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15:33   Upset ex-servicemen say govt accepted one demand, but rejected six
Major General Satbir Singh responds to OROP announcement:

* OROP approval is welcome and we are satisfied.

* Parrikar announced that personnel who retire voluntarily will not be covered under OROP scheme. This is a big setback. 40 per cent of retired defence officials get pension. Not including them in OROP is unjust to them.

* We reject the one-member judicial commission announced by the defence minister. We asked for a 5-member commission under the defence minister comprising three ex-servicemen, one serving serviceman and one member from the government's side. The six month term is unacceptable. We want a 5-member panel that will submit its report within a month.

* The defence minister agreed to one point and rejected the other 6.

* We will have to take forward our agitation
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15:16   Govt announces 'One Rank One Pension' for ex-servicemen
The government on Saturday announced the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for ex-servicemen.

This is what Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told a press conference:

* OROP has been in languishing for over 4 decades. Subsequent governments have dragged their feet on the issue citing administrative and financial issues in implementing OROP. 

* Previous government allocated Rs 500 crore for OROP. However, reality is that after consulting experts, its is now expected that the OROP will cost an estimated Rs 8000- Rs 10000 crore.

* OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with same length of service

* Despite huge financial burden given its commitment the government is implementing OROP.

* Pension would be re-fixed every 5 years

* Personnel who retire voluntarily will not be covered under OROP scheme

* One member judicial committee will be constituted, will give reports in 6 months
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14:47  
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to address the media shortly about 'One Rank One Pension'.
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14:14   Govt accepts OROP's basic concept, veterans say will study proposal
Major General (retd) Satbir Singh addressing ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar: 

* The concept of OROP has been accepted by the government broadly.

* Defence minister realised our point on VRS issue. We told the minister there is no VRS in army. There is only premature retirement

* The government is still adamant on 5 year revision. We have told the government that this is unacceptable. We told the defence minister that no junior should draw more pension than a senior.

* The defence minister will be announcing it in detail later today. We told the defence minister that OROP should be implemented fully. We will listen to defence minister's proposal and will respond after studying it.
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14:08   Congress calls CWC meet to end veterans' fears over Rahul's ambition
A Correspondent in New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi does not want to become the Congress president right now.


Meanwhile, the Congress Working Committee is meeting on September 8. 

According to sources, the CWC meet is aimed at preventing a possible walkout by few party elders, who now feel that Rahul may remove them to usher in youngsters. 

The CWC meet is also expected to pass three political resolutions, one which deals with slamming the BJP government surrendering before the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and taking its dictums. 

Sonia Gandhi on Friday reportedly consulted and entrusted the task of drafting the resolution to a former Union minister and an advocate. Interestingly, Sonia who is unwell is expected to involve Priyanka Gandhi for the first time in back-room work of AICC matters. In other words, both "brother and sister" will share Sonia's responsibilites.
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13:45   Parrikar calls up Jailtley for OROP funding approval
A Correspondent in Delhi: Prior to his meeting with ex-servicemen over the One Rank One Pension issue, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday had a telephone conversation with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who is Turkish capital Ankara to attend the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting.

Defence ministry sources said OROP is expected to cost about Rs 2,500 crore every year.

According to sources, Parrikar called Jaitley to get an oral approval for the financial allotment.

Jailey is believed to have spoken to Secretary, Expenditure to factor in another burden of Rs 2500 crore in the current financial year.
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13:08   We want to develop Bodh Gaya as spiritual capital of Buddhist world: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the government wants to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual capital of the Buddhist world.

"We want to develop Bodh Gaya as a spiritual capital of the Buddhist world," said Prime Minister Modi.

"I consider this Hindu Buddhist conference on conflict avoidance and environmental consciousness an important event," he added.

The prime minister's visit to Bodh Gaya coincides with Day 3 of SAMVAD -- the Global Hindu Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness, during which the delegates for this event are present at Bodh Gaya.

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12:06   Pakistan violates ceasefire twice, jawan injured
An Army jawan was injured as Pakistani troops today violated the ceasefire by firing on forward posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

"Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked firing in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district around 0745 hours," a Defence Spokesman said. 

In another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops targeted forward posts along the LoC in Hamirpur sector in Poonch district from 2150 hours to 2215 hours last night, he said.

In the Pakistani firing, a jawan was injured, he said, adding that the troops retaliated. 

With these ceasefire violations, the number of such violations has gone up to six in September.
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11:36   Govt's OROP decision won't be accepted if we aren't taken into confidence: Protestors
The ex-servicemen protesting for the implementation of One Rank, One Pension scheme on Saturday said that they won't accept the government's decision if the United Board of Ex-servicemen is not taken into confidence.

"If any decision is taken without taking us into confidence, then it will not be accepted," one of the protestors Colonel (Retd) Rajeev told ANI.

"If the government is sticking to its five-year reset clause, then it is very unfortunate. The five-year scheme doesn't go with the parliamentary definition of OROP. It is not One Rank, One Pension, it is One Rank, Five Pension," he added.

Another ex-servicemen Uday Singh further added, "Still can't trust government, if our concerns are not met then our dharna will continue."

The long awaited announcement on the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme is likely to be made today by the Narendra Modi led- NDA government. 
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11:05   Last rites of Aadesh Shrivastava today at Oshiwara crematorium
The last rites of Bollywood singer-composer Aadesh Shrivastava, who passed away battling cancer, will be held this afternoon at the Oshiwara crematorium in Mumbai.

51-year-old Shrivastava, who was fighting a relapsed cancer, passed away post midnight at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital.

The funeral will be there at at 12.30 pm at Oshiwara crematorium, sources said.

Shrivastava had been undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital in Andheri for over 40 days. 

He is survived by wife Vijeta Pandit, former Bollywood actress and sister of music-composer duo Jatin- Lalit, and their two sons -- Anivesh and Avitesh. 

Over the course of his career, Shrivastava had composed music for over 100 Hindi films including hits like "Chalte Chalte", "Baabul", "Baghban", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham" and "Rajneeti". 

Shrivastava delivered chart busters like "Kya Ada Kya Jalwe Tere Paro", "Haathon Mein Aa Gaya Jo Kal", "Sona Sona", "Shava Shava", "Gustakhiyaan", "Gur Nalon Ishq Mitha", "Mora Piya" among others.
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10:08   Hoax bomb alert disrupts 3 international flights at Delhi airport
Two international flights were called back while one which was preparing for departure from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi was taken to an isolation bay due to a bomb scare early Saturday, sources said. 

At 01.30 am a threat call was received at the Delhi Airport's call centre in Gurgaon.

The caller claimed that there were bombs on three international flights -- 9W078 of Jet Airways to Hong Kong, CX694 of Cathay Pacific also bound for Hong Kong and LX147 of Swiss Air to Zurich which later turned out to be hoax, airport sources said.

However, by that time, Jet Airways and Cathay Pacific flights had already left while Swiss flight was preparing for departure, they said. 

"The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee declared threat as specific at 2 am. Both the Jet Airways and Cathay flights were called back and taken to isolation bay after landing under emergency conditions. Swiss Air flight which was on-ground was also sent to isolation bay," sources said. 

A thorough search of the aircraft, passengers and their baggage was carried out by the security agencies and later all the three flights were cleared for take-off by them, sources said, adding that emergency was called off at 2:40 am. 
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09:47   OROP announcement likely at 3pm: TV reports
In a move that might douse the long standing protest of defence veterans, the Narendra Modi government is likely to announce the One Rank One pension scheme on Saturday.

Media outlets, citing sources, said the scheme is expected to be announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at around 3 pm as a "tribute to veterans".

Sources have also said that most of the ex-servicemen, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, are likely to accept the government proposal and end the stir.

The base year for the implementation of OROP will be calendar year 2013, with equalisation every five years. Sources said that the arrears will be paid to the beneficiaries in half-yearly payments.

This comes after defence veterans, who have been protesting for the implementation of One Rank One Pension, dug in their heels, saying they would not accept anything less than pension revisions every two years.
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09:46   Sheena Bora murder: Cops may seek extended custody of Indrani, Khanna, driver
Indrani Mukerjea, wife of ex-TV honcho Peter Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai will appear before court on Saturday as their police custody in connection with the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora is due to end today.

Mumbai Police is likely to seek custody extension of the accused for two more days.

The custody of the three accused was extended till September 5 by the Bandra court after police sought extension of their custody for further interrogation during their last court appearance on August 31.

India Today reports that the Mumbai Police made two significant headways in the investigation of the case. A forensic test for the digital facial superimposition of Sheena turned positive. They also managed to identify the car which was used to transport the body after the murder.

The forensic discovery has definitely strengthened the police investigations of the Sheena-murder case. The Mumbai Police had recently seized a skull from Raigad's Pen area, where her body was suspected to have been dumped three years ago

The results of the digital facial superimposition and reconstruction of the skull, teeth, cheek bones have matched with those of Sheena's pictures. This is a major shot in the arm for the Mumbai Police, which after the botch up by Pen police was struggling to identify the body. 
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09:41   Feeling 'blessed': PM Modi visits Bodh Gaya today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday visit the historically-significant site of Bodh Gaya in Bihar where he will attend the concluding ceremony of International Buddhist conclave.

Early Saturday morning, PM Modi tweeted that he was feeling 'blessed' to be visiting Bodh Gaya as he is the first Prime Minister to visit the place after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

At Bodh gaya, PM Modi will join representatives from 90 countries who are also attending the concluding day of SAMVAD -- the Global Hindu Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness.

Later, the prime minister will also visit the Mahabodhi temple and the Holy Bo tree.

He will also inaugurate an exhibition titled "Chetiya Carika: The Pilgrimage and Quest for Truth."
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02:51  
NASA's rockets are astounding machines, capable of blasting into space at thousands of miles per hour and withstanding temperatures twice the melting point of steel.

But they can't take off underwater.Rising sea levels caused by melting ice caps threaten to disrupt a handful of NASA launch sites along U.S. coastlines, the space agency warns.

In the coming years, launch facilities at Florida's Kennedy Space Center and other places may need to be retrofitted or even moved inland, NASA says.

Read this story HERE
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02:05   Composer Aadesh Shrivastava dies of cancer
Music composer Aadesh Shrivastava who was battling cancer passed away post midnight. He was 51. Aadesh had been in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri for over 40 days for cancer treatment.

"Mr Aadesh Shrivastava 51 years old expired at 12.30 am on 5th September 2015 in Kokilaben Hospital due to cancer," Dr Ram Narain of Kokilaben Hospital told PTI. Last evening Aadesh's brother-in-law and composer Lalit Pandit had told PTI,

"He has been undergoing chemotherapy but he is not responding to it. So, the doctors have stopped giving him chemotherapy. They have an alternate theory. The doctors are trying to do their best and Aadesh is fighting it bravely."
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01:54   Dutch defense ministry: Airman likely left to join ISIS
A sergeant in the Netherlands Royal Air Force recently left for Syria and "probably connected with ISIS," the Dutch Defense Ministry said Thursday, citing evidence officials have uncovered.

The Dutch public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation as officials are looking into any possible damage or risk to the country's military, according to the ministry.

The 26-year-old man no longer has access to military information and systems, the ministry announced.
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01:50   European migrant crisis: A country-by-country glance
Europe is in the midst of an unprecedented human migration. Fleeing war, fearing for their life and dreaming of a better life far from the poverty and upheaval of their unstable nations, hundreds of thousands are flocking to Europe's shores. 

The migrants and refugees risk their lives in rickety boats and cramped lorry containers -- only to be greeted by governments that can't agree on how, or if, to welcome them.

Read this story HERE 
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01:46   Twin suicide bombings in Cameroon leave 19 dead, 143 wounded
A double suicide bombing has killed 19 people and wounded 143 in northern Cameroon, where soldiers are battling Boko Haram fighters from Nigeria, officials say.

The first bomb exploded in the morning in a market in Kerawa, followed by another soon after near a camp housing infantry soldiers stationed in the north to fight the Nigerian Islamist group.

Image for representation only
 

Read this story HERE

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