Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s premier news agency, having a reach as vast as the Indian Railways. It employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.

Egyptian court orders Mubarak’s sons release

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A court in Egypt Thursday ordered release of Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, sons of former president Hosni Mubarak, pending their retrial in the presidential palaces case.

Mubarak, his sons, and four other defendants are accused of embezzling 125 million pounds (about $190) meant for developing communications centres at the presidency, MENA news agency reported.

Mubarak’s lawyer Farid el Dib filed a petition against their detention at Cairo criminal court, asking for their release after a cassation court annulled the four-year jail sentence against Alaa and Gamal and ordered a re-trial.

Kolo Toure asks fans to be patient with Ebola check-ups

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Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure has asked fans at the Africa Cup of Nations to be patient with Ebola checks-ups that were delaying entry into stadiums.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) check-ups are causing long queues and has also resulted in clashes between fans and police.

“Fans need to know they have to be checked. It’s more important than the game,” Liverpool defender Toure was quoted as saying by bbc.com.

“We have all to make sure this disease doesn’t increase, because nothing is more important than people’s lives.”

Morgan faced ‘five-figure’ blackmail threat: ECB

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England one-day skipper Eoin Morgan was the target of a recent five-figure blackmail attempt, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed Thursday.

A person had emailed the ECB threatening to contact media in Britain and Australia and divulging details of an alleged affair that Morgan had with an Australian woman five years ago, reports bbc.com.

According to police who were contacted by ECB officials, the matter has now been resolved.

“I am pleased this issue has now been brought to a swift conclusion,” said ECB managing director Paul Downton.

Traffic curbs in Delhi during Obama visit

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Traffic restrictions have been imposed in Delhi ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit, with roads leading to ITC Maurya Hotel shut down completely for the entire duration of his visit, police said here Thursday.

Obama will be staying in Maurya Hotel.

“Sardar Patel Marg will be shut from Jan 25 morning (the day Obama arrives) from Panchsheel to Dhaula Kuan. It will be relaxed as per the VIP movement,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla told the media.

Irom Sharmila released from custody, resumes fast

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Human rights activist Irom Sharmila Chanua “who has been fasting since 2000 demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958,” was released from a hospital turned into a jail Thursday.

The development came after a court in Manipur’s Imphal East district rejected the charges against her.

Soon after the verdict, the activist was released from the hospital ward in Imphal, which was turned into a jail for her all these years.

But just after release, Sharmila resumed her fast, her colleagues said.

Five of a family found dead in Kolkata

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Five people were Thursday found dead in two places in the city, and police suspect a middle-aged person may have killed his family members before committing suicide.

According to police, Shankar Malakar had two wives and families simultaneously.

While the body of his first wife and son was found at his residence at Harinavi, in the southern part of Kolkata, his body along with that of his second wife and son were recovered from Garfa in the southeastern region of the city.

Kalinga Lancers win HIL opener in goal-fest

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It was quite a positive and dominant start for the Kalinga Lancers who got off defeating debutants Ranchi Rays 6-3 in a goal-fest opening match of the third edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Kalinga Stadium here Thursday.

For a team which finished last in 2014, the Lancers left behind the disappointment and came out strong to defeat the Rays, which has many players from the now non-defunct Ranchi Rhinos.

33 killed in bomb attacks, clashes in Iraq

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At least 33 people were killed and over 47 others wounded Thursday in bomb attacks targeting the security forces and clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants, security source said.

In Anbar province, Iraqi security forces and allied Sunni tribes backed by US-led coalition aircraft clashed with the IS militants and seized al-Khasfa area in west of the town of Haditha, some 200 km northwest of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

Two Cameroon nationals held for Rs.30 lakh fraud

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Two Cameroon nationals were arrested here for cheating a Pune-based person on the pretext of giving Black Dollars, police said Thursday.

Simplice Manfred, 34, and Roland Guiffo, 30, were arrested from Paharganj area in central Delhi Wednesday, on the complaint of Pune-resident Narinder Pal who filed it Jan 21.

Will get two-third majority in Delhi: Shah

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah Wednesday said the party will get two-thirds majority in the upcoming Feb 7 Delhi assembly polls.

Addressing a conference of party workers in east Delhi along with BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, Shah attacked the opposition for indulging in “politics of falsehood”.

“Politics of falsehood will not succeed in Delhi and we shall gain two-thirds majority by virtue of our achievements,” Shah said, directing party workers to contact 30 families daily and convince them to vote for the BJP.

Haryana governor gets additional charge of Punjab

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Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was Thursday sworn-in as governor of Punjab.

Solanki will hold the additional charge of Punjab till a regular governor for the state is appointed.

Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court S.J. Vazifdar administered the oath of office to Solanki at Punjab Raj Bhavan here.

He will also hold charge of administrator of union territory of Chandigarh.

The five-year term of Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil ended Wednesday. Patil, a former union home minister, joined here as governor Jan 22, 2010.

Phoolan Devi murder: HC seeks police response on killer’s appeal

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The Delhi High Court Thursday asked city police to file response on an appeal by Sher Singh Rana who challenged his sentence of life imprisonment for killing bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi in 2001.

A division bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Ashutosh Kumar posted the matter for Feb 25 and sought police reply on the plea.

A trial court Aug 14, 2014, awarded life term to Rana, who July 25, 2001 gunned down Phoolan Devi, once popularly known as “Bandit Queen”, to avenge the 1981 Behmai massacre in which she killed 17 people from the Thakur community.

693 candidates in fray for Delhi polls after scrutiny

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A total of 693 candidates are left in the fray for the Feb 7 Delhi assembly polls after scrutiny of nomination papers, the Election Commission said here Thursday.

“After scrutiny, a total of 693 (candidates) are left in the fray for the Delhi assembly polls,” a poll panel statement said.

A total of 923 candidates filed their nomination papers for the polls.

The last date to withdraw the nominations is Jan 24.

According to the poll panel, nomination papers of 230 candidates were cancelled due to wrong documentation and ineligibility.

Ambanis, Amitabh, Sachin invited for Obama banquet

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Industrialists Anil and Mukesh Ambani, actor Amitabh Bachchan and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar are among many celebrities invited for the ceremonial banquet to be hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee for US President Barack Obama.

Officials said the banquet, to be held Jan 25, will also be attended by the three service chiefs.

Tennis star Sania Mirza is also among the invitees, they said.

Obama will arrive in India Jan 25 along with his wife Michelle on a three-day state visit.

(IANS)

Congress condemns Dwivedi’s remarks, hints at action

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The Congress Thursday condemned senior party leader Janardan Dwivedi’s remarks allegedly linking ‘Indianness’ to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls and indicated a possible action against him.

The party, in a specially convened press meet in the morning, reacted to Dwivedi’s purported remarks that have been widely noticed in political circles.

Dwivedi, however, later in the day clarified that he did not praise Modi and did not require lessons to understand ‘Indianness’.

Bihar sets up SIT to probe Muzaffarpur killings

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Bihar Thursday set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the death of five people in Muzaffarpur district four days ago which had triggered off a communal clash, officials said.

Police headquarters formed a five-member SIT headed by Saraiya sub-divisional police officer Manoj Kumar to probe the violence, Additional Director General of Police, headquarters, Gupteshwar Pandey said.

According to a police officer, the Crime Investigation Department’s inspector general is monitoring the SIT probe.

13 killed as shell hits tram stop in Ukraine

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At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured Thursday when an artillery shell struck a tram stop in Donetsk, said the pro-Russian separatists who control the city in eastern Ukraine.

“As a result of a mortar striking a tram stop in the Lenin region of Donetsk this morning, 13 people were killed and dozens others were injured,” said the Donetsk news agency, citing medical services.

Modi, Obama to interact at least seven times during visit

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will interact on at least seven different occasions during the three-day visit of the US president beginning Jan 25.

Modi will be there to receive Obama during the ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan after the US president lands in Delhi at 10 a.m. on Jan 25 on Air Force Once.

Both would meet again at the bilateral talks in Hyderabad House where Modi would be leading the Indian delegation at the talks.

US goalkeeper Solo suspended for misconduct

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The United States women’s team goalkeeper Hope Solo has been suspended for a month following an unsavoury incident during a football training camp.

“Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on US Soccer and her teammates,” head coach Jill Ellis was quoted as saying by bbc.com Thursday.

The 33-year-old will now miss international friendly matches against France Feb 8 and against England Feb 13.

Solo was earlier charged with domestic violence but the charges were dropped this month.

Kashmiri Pandits’ exile not a lesser tragedy: Vishal Bhardwaj

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Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who excluded the representation of Kashmiri Pandits in his film “Haider”, Thursday said he was never “insensitive” towards the mass exodus that made the majority of the community “refugees” in their own country.

Bhardwaj’s Indian adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” was the final film of his trilogy, along with “Maqbool” and “Omkara”, adapted from the plays “Macbeth” and “Othello” respectively.

The Shahid Kapoor-starrer, however, got embroiled in a post-release controversy where many blamed Bhardwaj for “showing only one side of Kashmir”.

President meets bravery award winners

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President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday met the 24 children who would be conferred this year’s National Bravery Award, Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The awardees from across the country will also participate in the Republic Day parade.

The bravery awards were initiated by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) to give due recognition to children who have performed an outstanding deed of bravery and meritorious service to inspire other children.

The awardees are invited to Delhi and are presented the award by the prime minister on the eve of Republic Day.

Will invite Mamata to launch East West Metro: Babul Supriyo

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On getting assurance from the West Bengal government to resolve the impasse concerning the East West Metro corridor, union minister Babul Supriyo Thursday said he will invite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate the project when completed.

In the city to meet Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation officials, Supriyo – the union minister of state for urban development – said he has discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the 14.67-km corridor that will connect Kolkata’s satellite township Salt lake with Howrah.

Timeline of IPL 2013 betting and spot fixing case

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Here is the timeline of the IPL 2013 betting and spot fixing case, in which the Supreme Court has banned N. Srinivasan from contesting the BCCI president’s poll:

May 16, 2013: Three Rajasthan Royals players S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan arrested by Delhi Police for spot-fixing during Indian Premier League 2013.

May 21: Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh arrested for his links with bookies.

May 24: Mumbai police arrest Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI president Srinivasan, for his links with bookies through Vindoo.

Delhi sees coldest Jan 22 in five years

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Rains caused such a sudden and drastic fall in the temperature that Thursday became the coldest Jan 22 in the past five years, the maximum temperature going eight notches below the season’s average 13.2 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office has forecast light showers in the national capital Friday.

Since 2010, the lowest maximum temperature recorded was 15 degrees Celsius last year, an official with the India Meteorological Department said.

Rain affected traffic on Delhi roads. A total of 6.2 metres of rain was recorded till 5.30 p.m.

Rain may hit Republic Day celebrations

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The weather in the national capital may prove to be a spoilsport during this year’s Republic Day parade as the Met Office has said there was a “possibility” of showers Jan 26.

“There is a possibility (of rain) on Republic Day,” India Meteorological Department (IMD) director B.P. Yadav told IANS.

US President Barack Obama is the chief guest at this year’s parade and will be in an open air setting for about two hours, something unprecedented in his visit to a foreign country.