The CBI on Friday made it clear that certain audio clips related to Sheena Bora murder case had been taken note of and formed "integral part' of its charge sheets in the case.

JUST IN: French court suspends burkini ban amid shock and anger worldwide

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has told Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti to take concrete steps to control the law and order situation in the Valley, CNN-News18 has reported.

JUST IN: Army and Assam police have recovered an improvised explosive device from house of a suspected linkman of Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam. The IED was later defused by bomb squad.

Second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue to be held in Delhi on August 30: MEA

Just in: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti to land in New Delhi shortly. She is likely to meet PM Modi tomorrow.

On Thursday, confronted by tough questions, an angry Mufti brought to an abrupt end a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh when her stand on ongoing protests were compared with her position during the 2010 unrest.

Singh, who was seated next to the chief minister on the dais, was seen making gestures to pacify Mehbooba who took on a reporter when reminded about her opposition to use of force and locking up of separatists in 2010 when rival National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was the chief minister.

"Muje kya bolenge yeh Sir. maine inke bachon ko bachaya hai Task Force se (What can they tell me. I have saved their kids from Special Task force)," Mehbooba, who lost her cool, retorted with an abrupt "thank you, now you can have a cup of tea".

A file picture of PM Modi and JK CM Mehbooba Mufti in a meeting in March

London mayor Sadiq Khan has joined other protesters in the British capital to condemn the 'burkini' ban in France, saying no one should dictate women what they can and can't wear. "Full stop. It's as simple as that.


"I don't think it's right. I'm not saying we're perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we don't simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it," said the city's first Muslim mayor yesterday during a visit to Paris to meet his counterpart Anne Hidalgo. He was reacting to France's decision to ban the so-called 'burkini' '" a term combining burqa and bikini to refer to fully covered beachwear worn by Muslim women. "I'm quite firm on this. I don't think anyone should tell women what they can and can't wear. Full stop. It's as simple as that," he said. Khan's comments came on the same day when around 40 Londoners organised an impromptu "beach party" outside the French embassy in central London to protest against parts of France imposing a ban on burkinis as clothing that could provoke violence. "A lot of women wear it by choice. If the burkini enables women to go and sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine, surely that should be encouraged. It helps ensure these women are no longer on the margins," said a campaigner for Citizens UK, organisers of the protest. The London protests follow photographs earlier this week showing four male police officers armed with handguns, batons and pepper spray forcing a woman on a beach in Nice to remove what they suspected to be a burkini. Cannes, Nice and about 15 other areas of the France Riviera have outlawed the clothing.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on the Scorpene submarine leak: "We are going by assumption of the worst case scenario. Our submarine has so far not done sea trials therefore the most imp signature doesn't form part of the documents. We have told them (Indian Navy) based on inputs, to find out area of concerns and then take appropriate steps to address it. A few pockets of concern, assuming worst case scenario, but not a big worry. Well be able to put things into perspective."

More than 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked, ringing alarm bells on Wednesday in the security establishment.

The combat capability of the Scorpene submarines being built at Mazagon dock at a cost of $3.5 billion (over Rs 23,495 core) by French shipbuilder DCNS, went public when an Australian newspaper, "The Australian", put the details on the website.

Reacting with alacrity to the development, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who learnt about the leak at midnight, ordered Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba to go into the 'entire issue". A detailed report is also being sought by the Indian government from DCNS.

"What I understand is there is a hacking. So we will find out all this," Parrikar told media persons in Delhi on Wednesday.

The details leaked included what frequencies the submarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, the Australian said.

India is nowhere close to a general election. The Narendra Modi government elected in May 2014 has not even run halfway through its term.


The bouts of political instability that gripped India, particularly during the nightmare years of 1989 to 1991 and 1996 to 1999 seem a long time ago. The prime minister's position is secure and his leadership of both the Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance is unchallenged. Not since Rajiv Gandhi stepped into his mother's shoes and won a resounding five-year mandate in 1984 has India witnessed such predictability at the top.  Read Swapan Dasgupta's column here

A couple of months ago he was the most powerful man in the country, followed everywhere he went by a retinue of aides and a jostling pack of news-hungry reporters and cameramen.

Today David Cameron is a 49-year-old at a loose end, snapped this week sitting barefoot on a car-park wall in Cornwall, eating fish and chips and staring abstractedly into the middle distance.  Read more

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says she will not t allow any bandh in Bengal. The central trade unions have proposed a countrywide strike on September 2. However, she said that within three months if the Centre doesn't stop stop interfering in WB then she will protest on the roads of Delhi. 

Dalit organisations backed by non-BJP parties today announced that they will meet next month to decide on how to counter the "cultural fascism" of the RSS.

The organisations predominately from the Left will also decide on a "unified command" to be centered in Delhi to take on issues related to atrocities on Dalits across the country. Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, on behalf of the Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh, alleged that atrocities on community members are on the rise and slammed the RSS for "growing cultural fascism" in the country.

"We will hold a Dalit conference-cum-dharna at Parliament Street on September 16. This will be attended by Dalit organisations across the country. "Currently, we are in the process to set the socio- cultural-religious agenda which will be spelt out in the meeting," Ambedkar said.

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, who is facing criticism over the maternity bill and its "failure" to provide any relief to fathers-to-be, today said in future there could be a "more sophisticated" legislation to address these concerns.

She also denied having said "paternity leave will be just a holiday" in an interview to a national daily. "I didn't actually say that. I said men already have sick leave. They need to use that when they have babies and then we will proceed on that," Gandhi said.

"I look forward to a time when there will be a joint responsibility by both parents. It is an ideal situation and we are working towards that. The first step in the pursuit of giving care to a new born child is the Maternity Bill and maybe the next step will be more sophisticated," she said.

Maternity Benefit Bill 2016 was passed in the Rajya Sabha earlier this month and is likely to be taken up in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session.

The bill proposes to extend maternity leave from the current 12 weeks to 26 weeks but has no mention for leave for fathers. Currently, there is no legislation mandating compulsory leave for fathers in private sector.

Though men in government service -- biological as well as adoptive fathers -- can take 15 days of paid leave. Several MPs had pointed out this lacuna while the bill was taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha.

Independent MP Anu Agha, Congress' Rajni Patil and NCP's Vandana Chavan had sought provisions for paternity leave in the bill. "The government should also address the hidden biases against working women...the father too is responsible for raising a child," Rajni Patil had demanded.

"Men leave childcare to their wives and glorify motherhood," Agha had told the House.

Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi turned 60 today. Apart from a host of ministers and BJP leaders like Smriti Irani, Dharmendra Pradhan, Anant Geete (Shiv Sena), Sadhvi Niranajan, PM Modi also wished her, tweeting, "Birthday greetings to WCD Minister @Manekagandhibjp. I pray for her long and healthy life."

But easily, the warmest, sweetest birthday wish came from another BJP MP, Varun Gandhi, wearing the son's hat. The MP from Pilibhit, tweeted a collage of pictures with his mother and posted, "@varungandhi80 
Happy birthday Ma. If only words could describe what you mean to me. Thank you for everything. @manekagandhibjp"

The collage does include a picture of his father Sanjay Gandhi. Varun was just three-months old, when his father died in a plane crash in 1980. In fact, the first picture on the collage was taken on Sanjay Gandhi's death anniversary on June 23rd this year.

Here's wishing you a very happy birthday Mrs Gandhi, and a wonderful year ahead.

Parivendhar, chairman of SRM University and owner of the Tamil television station Puthia Thalaimurai, has been arrested under Sections 420 and 421 of the IPC (dealing with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and dishonest or fraudulent concealment of property). He will be produced before the Saidapet magistrates court at 4 pm today by the central crime branch of the Chennai police.

In a big relief to the family of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was lynched to death by a violent mob over suspicion of consuming beef in the Bisada village near Dadri in Noida last year, the Allahabad high court on Friday stayed their arrest in connection with the case.

Turkey's state-run news agency says Kurdish rebels have exploded a car bomb at a police checkpoint in southeast Turkey, killing eight and injuring 64 others.

Anadolu Agency says the attack on Friday targeted a checkpoint some 50 meters (yards) away from a police station in the town of Cizre, in Sirnak province. It said the blast caused severe damage to the police station.

Militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have carried out a string of car bomb attacks on police and military in recent months.

Violence between the PKK and the security forces resumed last year, after the collapse of a fragile peace process.

A packed passenger bus plunged into a river early on Friday in central Nepal, killing 21 people, a senior local official said. 

"I will visit Haji Ali Dargah on Sunday," Bhumata Ranragini Brigade chief Trupti Desai said today. Desai said the decision ensures there is no discrimination against women.

After spearheading campaigns to break the bar on the entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of two famous temples, Desai had also entered the Haji Ali dargah in May.

Desai has led a high-profile campaign to the dargah, but stopped short of entering the shrine at the last minute amid resistance by activists of outfits opposed to the move.
 

"Police cooperated with us this time. This is a fight for gender equality. We will try to visit the inner sanctum next time," she said.


Desai, whose previous campaigns were centred around Hindu temples, had then maintained that her agitation for right to equality for women at places of worship is not linked to any religion.

The Maharashtra government had in February this year favoured the entry of women into the Haji Ali dargah. 

First reactions from the Haji Ali Dargah trust: The HC should not have interfered but now that they have given a decision against us we will approach the SC: Haji Rafat.

First reactions from the petitioner in the Haji Ali dargah case: "Very happy, this is a great step towards justice for Muslim women," Zakia Soman, said.

This is a historic moment and the judgment has done justice to women, Soman, who is co-founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, told Rediff.com.

In a landmark decision, the Bombay High Court today allowed entry to women in the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali dargah. The HC said women should be permitted in the dargah along with men and the Maharashtra government should ensure their safety. The court said the ban imposed on women is contrary to the fundamental rights of a person as provided in the Constitution.

The ban was imposed in 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust citing some religious traditions as the reason.

The PIL was filed by women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman and the NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.The Haji Ali Trust, as the respondent in the case, defended the ban saying that the entry of women in close proximity to the tomb of a male saint would be seen as a grievous sin in Islam.


The Haji Ali Trust has said it will appeal the court order.

An assassination attempt on German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly been foiled in Prague as Czech police detained an armed man who tried to join her motorcade during visit to the capital.


"The perpetrator has been detained," the Mirror quoted police spokesman Josef Bocan as saying on Thursday.

"He is suspected of attempting to cause a crime -- specifically an attempt to use violence against an official," he said.

"The incident is currently being investigated by Prague detectives," the spokesman added.

Merkel, who was in Prague to meet Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, was travelling from the airport to the city when the suspicious Black Mercedes appeared.

The driver refused to obey orders coming from the police cars accompanying the German Chancellor.

The suspect tried to enter the motorcade and cut off a police vehicle that was trying to stop him. He only stopped and got out of the vehicle after the police warned of shooting him.

The incident comes as Europe remains on high alert after a series of terror attacks over the past 12 months.

France, Germany and Belgium have been attacked by the ISIS terror group, claiming hundreds of lives.

Just in: In a landmark ruling, women will be allowed in the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.

The Bombay High Court pronounced its verdict on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the ban on the entry of women into the inner sanctum of the city's famed Haji Ali Dargah.

A two-judge division bench of the high court, comprising Justice V M Kanade AMD and Justice Revati Mohite Dhere pronounced the verdict.

The ban was imposed in 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust citing some religious traditions as the reason.

The PIL was filed by women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman and the NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.The Haji Ali Trust, as the respondent in the case, defended the ban saying that the entry of women in close proximity to the tomb of a male saint would be seen as a grievous sin in Islam.

The Maharashtra government had in February told the Bombay High Court that unless the Dargah Board is able to prove that the ban is a part of their religious practice with reference to the Quran, women should be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali.

The trust had claimed that separate arrangements have been made for women to walk up to a certain point from where they can offer prayers, but are not permitted to touch the tomb of a male saint as it is a sin in Islam.

The Supreme Court gives interim protection to Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa and her family for six weeks in a sexual harassment case lodged by her maid. The court stopped her arrest saying she was an MP and would not run away.

Sasikala's maid had filed a sexual harassment complaint against her and her family. The domestic servants, who reportedly worked at Sasikala's house in Tamil Nadu, had filed a police complaint alleging that they were tortured by them.

Sasikala, who reportedly slapped DMK MP Trichy Siva at Delhi airport recently, was expelled from AIADMK on August 1 by party chief J Jayalalithaa on grounds of violating party principles and ethics and bringing disrepute to the party.

Sasikala had broken down in the Rajya Sabha just minutes before Jayalalithaa announced her ouster, and had said she was facing a "life theat" and that she was being forced to resign.  

US Geological Survey says quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7 strikes near Amatrice, Italy, says AP. 

An 11-year-old Royal Bengal tigress has set a record of sorts by begetting 22 cubs since 2008 in Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), thus becoming the cynosure of all eyes as tourists flock in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the majestic beast.

Forest experts say the tigress' popularity is akin to India's most famous feline 'Machli', of Rajasthan, who died last week.

"Royal Bengal Tigress T-15, popularly known as 'Collar Wali' (one with a collar), has given birth to 22 cubs in six separate litters since 2008. I have not heard of any tigress that has given birth to 22 cubs anywhere," Pench Tiger Reserve's field director Subharanjan Sen told PTI.

The tigress gave birth to five cubs in 2011 and reared all of them, he said. According to the last tiger count of 2014, the striped animal population in PTR, spread over Seoni and Chhindwara districts of MP, was between 35 and 49, he said. T-15 is known as 'Collar Wali' as she was the first tigress to be radio collared in PTR for tracking her movements, though her radio collar is defunct now, another forest official said.


A file picture of Collarwali. Pic courtesy: Tigernation.org

The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed the FIR filed against Sussanne Khan, ex-wife of Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, in a cheating case, citing lack of evidence. The order was passed by Justice FM Reis and Justice Nutan Sardesai.

A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against Sussanne -- who runs an interior decoration and design firm The Charcoal Project -- accusing her of cheating and misrepresentation in a case involving Rs 1.87 crore at the Panaji police station in June.

Real estate firm Emgee Properties filed the complaint that she had misrepresented herself as an architect to win a contract in 2013.

Sussanne took to Twitter on Thursday to share the news with her fans. In a series of tweets, she wrote: "My petition allowed by Goa bench of the Bombay High Court. Criminal complaint filed by Emgee Enterprises has been quashed by the High Court. No misrepresentation. FIR registered been quashed. The order quashing FIR vindicated my position. Thankful to the judiciary. Justice prevails."

In September 2013, Emgee Enterprises executed a written contract with Sussanne "for architectural and designing services' for its Naira Complex being constructed at Siridao in Tiswadi, North Goa. The complainant alleged that Sussanne failed to deliver the project within the period stipulated in the contract.

Italy has declared a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by Wednesday's earthquake as hopes of finding more survivors fade, reports the BBC.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has pledged 50m (42m) in funds for rebuilding.

At least 250 people are now known to have died and 365 were injured.

Teams have continued to search the rubble of toppled buildings for a second night.However, hundreds of aftershocks have hampered the efforts of the 5,000 rescuers.

The Bombay High Court today will pronounce its verdict on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the ban on the entry of women into the inner sanctum of the city's famed Haji Ali Dargah.

A two-judge division bench of the high court, comprising of Justice V M Kanade AMD and Justice Revati Mohite Dhere will pronounced the verdict.

The ban was imposed in 2012 by the Haji Ali Dargah Trust citing some religious traditions as the reason.

The PIL was filed by women activists Noorjehan Niaz and Zakia Soman and the NGO Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.The Haji Ali Trust, as the respondent in the case, defended the ban saying that the entry of women in close proximity to the tomb of a male saint would be seen as a grievous sin in Islam.

The Maharashtra government had in February told the Bombay High Court that unless the Dargah Board is able to prove that the ban is a part of their religious practice with reference to the Quran, women should be allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali.

The trust had claimed that separate arrangements have been made for women to walk up to a certain point from where they can offer prayers, but are not permitted to touch the tomb of a male saint as it is a sin in Islam.

Posting without comment.


Rahul Kanwal @rahulkanwal Peter's daughter Vidhie Mukherjea alleges Arnab's wife is writing a book on Sheena murder case. 'Wife of a snake who is immoral & pathetic.'

Not only dahi handis, the law too was broken on Thursday. Many mandals flouted the Supreme Court's curbs on height of human pyramids and participation of minors. The court has restricted the height of pyramids to 20-feet and disallowed minors from forming part of the pyramid.

Amid an outcry over a tribal man forced to walk 10 km with his wife's body in Odisha's Kalahandi, district health authorities claimed there was no negligence and an ambulance was arranged to take the corpse to their village when the incident came to light. 

After Sheena Bora went missing on April 24, 2012, Rahul Mukerjea, the younger son of former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea and Sheena's fianc, kept trying to trace her, audio clips have revealed. 

With eye injuries caused by use of pellet guns in Jammu & Kashmir turning into a major controversy, an expert panel of the home ministry is exploring whether these can be replaced with newly-developed PAVA shells, a chilli-based non-lethal munition which temporarily incapacitates the targets and renders them immobile for several minutes.