Decision to compose music for 'Muhammad' in good faith: Rahman

 Mon, 14 September 2015
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23:35

US campus shooting leaves one dead

A university in the southern US state of Mississippi was on lock down today after at least one person was killed in a shooting, Delta State University said. The university sent out an alert urging students to stay inside and away from windows after an active shooter was spotted on campus.
23:34

Pak accuses India of ceasefire violations along LoC

Pakistan army today accused India of firing across the LoC, just two days after the border guards of the two countries agreed to end ceasefire violations and maintain peace by devising new strategies. Pakistan army said in a statement that Indian troops violated the Line of Control this...
22:44

Pak army targets Indian positions in Poonch

Pakistani army targeted Indian military positions along the Line of Control in Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir today, in yet another ceasefire violation. Pakistan army resorted to ceasefire violation in Balakot sector of Poonch from 1845 hours to 1945 hours, a defence spokesman said.
21:50

Bangladesh police step up hunt for fugitive cricketer

Bangladesh police stepped up their hunt today for national cricketer Shahadat Hossain who went into hiding over claims he and his wife beat their 11-year-old maid, an officer said.The 29-year-old paceman was suspended from all forms of cricket on Sunday as police investigate allegations he...
21:49

Decision to compose music for 'Muhammad' in good faith: Rahman

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A R Rahman today sought to defuse the controversy surrounding the fatwa issued against him and Iranian director Majid Majidi over their film Muhammad: Messenger of God, saying he composed the music in good faith and with no intention to cause offence. Mumbai-based Raza Academy had objected...
21:43

Dengue scare grips Delhi; 2 more die, over 600 fresh cases reported

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Dengue scare has gripped the capital with two more patients dying of it and 613 fresh cases reported over the last one week, forcing the Delhi government to cancel leave of doctors, open 'Fever Clinics' to treat those hit, and launch a 24X7 helpline to deal with the situation.Union Health...
21:26

Vadra asks govt to remove him off no-frisking list at airports

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, who is in the elite no frisking list at the domestic airports, on Monday pressed the government to take his name off the list.Plan to visit every terminal in the airports in India and add a white tape on my name from the VVIP list and my...
20:48

Sri Lankan PM arrives on 3-day visit

In his first overseas trip after assuming the top office for the fourth term, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi today on a three-day visit during which he will hold extensive talks with the Indian leadership including on the sensitive fishermen issue. He was...
20:44

Mullah Omar died of natural causes, says son

The Afghan Taliban's founder Mullah Omar died of natural causes in his home country, his son has said in an attempt to quash the myriad rumours surrounding the warrior cleric's mysterious death.The Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001 and has waged an anti-government insurgency...
20:42

SP, NCP join hands for Bihar poll

Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party today announced entering into alliance for the coming Bihar assembly elections and claimed they were in talks with some other anti-BJP and anti-Congress regional parties. The alliance was announced at a joint press meet by SP Secretary General...
20:05

Nearly half of India rain-deficient: IMD

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Close to half the country is experiencing deficient rains and the shorage for the figure has gone up to 16 per cent.As of today, 44 per cent of the country has received deficient rainfall and 50 per cent has witnessed normal, Indian Meteorological Department said, adding that only six per cent of...
19:58

Saudi diplomat case: Cops send report to state Home Dept

Haryana Police has forwarded a detailed report to the state's home department on the alleged confinement and rape of two Nepalese women by a Saudi Arabian diplomat in his flat in Gurgaon. The report, which was earlier e-mailed to the external affairs ministry by the Gurgaon Police on...
19:56

SC extends stay on Maran's arrest in telephone exchange case

The Supreme Court today extended the stay on a Madras High Court order cancelling the bail of former Telecom Minister and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran in the alleged telephone exchange case.A bench of justices T S Thakur and C Nagappan also granted two weeks to Maran to file a rejoinder to CBI's...
19:54

Germany 'at limit' as migrant surge hits record

German police were carrying out checks on the Austrian border today following Berlin's stunning decision to reintroduce passport controls, as a new record migrant surge into Hungary raised the stakes ahead of crunch EU talks.Chancellor Angela Merkel's dramatic reinstatement of checks on Germany's...
19:53

Pakistan players won't play Hockey India League

Hockey India president Narinder Batra today ruled out Pakistani players participation in future editions of Hockey India League, saying they will not be considered until they apologise for their unacceptable behaviour during last year's Champions Trophy. Still awaiting an apology from...
19:05

Sena writes to PM for Bharat Ratna for Savarkar

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Just in: BJP ally Shiv Sena writes a letter to PM Narendra Modi demanding the Bharat Ratna be conferred on Veer Savarkar.In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent on Monday, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has called Savarkar a staunch supporter for a Hindu India and has requested Modi to...
17:46

Malcolm Turnbull is Austraila's new PM, Abbott voted out

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Just in: Australia PM Tony Abbott unseated by rival Malcolm Turnbull. In effect, PM Narendra Modi's next selfie in Australia will be with Mr Turnbull.Tony Abott has been cut down in his first term. Turnbull beat Tony 54-44 in a leadership vote, party whips announce. Prime Minister Tony Abbott...
17:11

Gujarat best state to do business

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat has ranked at the top of an assessment of state implementation of business reforms sponsored by the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP). In other words, Gujarat tops in the ease of doing business ranking. Andhra Pradesh,...
17:00
ICPA had carried out the secret ballot exercise across four regions -- North, East, West and South -- between August 31 and September 9 to seek its members' opinion on a whether it should call a strike following the Labour Ministry's notification on exclusion of flight commanders from the...
16:52

Air India pilots may go on strike in two days

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National carrier Air India is staring at yet another industrial unrest with a majority members of one of its pilots' unions favouring a strike against a Labour Ministry notification on exclusion of flight commanders from the workmen category. According to sources, the Central Executive Committee...
16:42
Gujarat tops ease of doing business index, says a World Bank report.
16:18

HC stays ban on meat sale in Mumbai

The Bombay High Court today stayed the controversial ban on sale of meat in Mumbai on September 17 in connection with the Jain community's fasting season Paryushan, asking why the restriction is only on mutton and chicken and not on fish and eggs. If it is a question of practice of non-violence...
16:03

The Hero of the Battle of Dograi

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Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Hayde was awarded the Mahavir Chakra, the second highest honour in war-time, for winning one of the toughest battles ever fought by the Indian Army. In a brilliant, but gruesome assault, what he and his men achieved that September 50 years ago, had never been seen...
15:50

Indian scientists decode Tulsi plant genome

Indian scientists have deciphered the entire genetic make-up of Tulsi, a herb widely used for therapeutic purposes. The genome map will help in making new medicines using the plant.A multi-institutional team led by Sowdhamini Ramanathan from the National Centre of Biological Science,...
15:49
Saudi Arabia has 100,000 air-conditioned tents that can house 3 million people sitting empty, yet has taken zero refugees.  Read
15:37

Have you seen her?

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Four-year-old Santoshi has been missing since July 26, 2015. A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com meets a family, desperately searching for their daughter. The first of our national series on Missing Children.  Read
15:24

Hitler's stormtroopers 'felt invincible because of crystal meth-style drug

Hitler's armies carried out their 'Blitzkrieg' invasions of Poland and France while high on a version of crystal meth which kept them wide awake, feeling euphoric and invincible, says a new book about the Nazis' use of drugs during the Second World War. Read more
14:57

Porn star Mia Khalifa to be part of Bigg Boss 9?

It's like Sunny Leone's story is being played out all over again; only, with different characters! Taking Sunny's place in this scenario is Lebanese-American adult star, Mia Khalifa. Believe it or now, the makers of Bigg Boss 9 have already approached the porn star to appear on the reality show...
14:56

All violence is male-generated: Maneka Gandhi

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Courting controversy, union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Monday said that the role of men in gender sensitisation was critical since all the violence is male-generated. The role of men in gender sensitisation was the most critical since all the violence is...
14:49
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Latest IMD report shows drought is getting worse.
14:37
Three dead bodies recovered from Pattan, Baramulla (J&K) with bullet marks. Police investigating the matter, bodies yet to be identified. 
14:23

12 convicted in Mumbai train blasts to be sentenced today

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A special MCOCA court on Monday is expected to pronounce quantum of sentence to the convicted 12 of the 13 accused for their involvement in the July 11, 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings in which 188 people were killed.Those held guilty in the case by Special Maharashtra Control of...
14:16

Konkona, Ranvir announce separation

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Bollywood actress Konkona Sensharma and actor husband Ranvir Shorey have decided to mutually part ways after five years of marriage. The couple, who are parents to four-year-old son Haroon, took to their respective Twitter accounts to announce their split that follows prolonged speculation...
14:14

Dengue menace: Govt hospitals asked to open Fever Clinics

Amid rising cases of dengue, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain today ordered all government hospitals to open 'Fever Clinics' at their premises to detect the disease at the primary level and asked top health and administrative officers to take preventive steps. Jain stressed that people should...
14:12

No thought for food

Can one person's religious freedom interfere with another's food preferences? And what if the freedom of one religious group is in conflict with that of another? The ban imposed in some States on the sale of meat during the Jain community's annual fasting period of Paryushan is problematic...
14:08

Gujarat riots case: Sanjiv Bhatt moves SC, seeks to make Amit Shah a party to his petition

Dismissed IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt moved Supreme Court seeking to make BJP president Amit Shah a party in his pending petition alleging PM Narendra Modi's role in Gujarat riots as well as foisting false cases against him. Read more
14:03

Who gets what in Bihar

So, here's what it looks like in Bihar: BJP will contest 160 seats, LJP 40 seats, RLSP 23 seats, HAM 20 seats. Few HAM members to contest on BJP tickets, as well.
13:46
On differences over seat sharing in Bihar, if any, Amit Shah said, There is no tug of war in NDA over seat sharing. The issue of chief ministership to be decided by NDA MLAs after polls.
13:43

Nitish considers himself as Bihar, but the public doesn't: Amit Shah

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The National Democratic Alliance chief, who is PM Narendra Modi, will decide on deputy CM and CM for Bihar elections, said BJP chief Amit Shah. He further added that the PM will be the chief campaigner in the state. When questioned on Manjhi, he said it was up to him to decide if he wants to...
13:34

Bihar polls: BJP to contest 160 seats, Manjhi gets 20

Of the total 243 seats in Bihar, the BJP will contest 160,  Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party will fight in 40. The RLSP will contest 23 and Manjhi's HAM in 20, says BJP President Amit Shah.   
13:30

Since BJP has exited Bihar govt, state has seen jungle rule: Amit Shah

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Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bharatiya Janata Party  President Amit Shah today reached a deal over seat-sharing for the Bihar Assembly polls. Making a formal announcement, Shah said, The BJP and our three alliance partners discussed seat sharing and decided on it...
13:13

SC to reconsider ban on chief ministers' photos in govt ads

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The Supreme Court today decided to examine its own decision of barring photographs of chief ministers on government ads. The top court issued a notice to Common Cause and Centre for Public Interest Litigation, the NGO on whose petition it had ruled that only the photos of the President, Prime...
13:10

Lord Vishnu ad row: SC stays criminal proceedings against Dhoni

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The Supreme Court on Monday stayed criminal proceedings against cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni for allegedly 'denigrating' a Hindu god by posing as Lord Vishnu on the cover page of a magazine.The apex court also issued notice to social activist Jayakumar Hiremath, who had filed the case against...
12:58

Wholesale prices plunge 4.95 pc in August

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Wholesale prices fell for the tenth straight month in August, tumbling an annual 4.95 per cent primarily on the back of cooling fuel costs, government data showed.The wholesale fuel prices tumbled 16.50 per cent from a year ago, while food prices dropped 1.13 per cent year-on-year. Prices of...
12:45

69 detonators, gelatin sticks seized from Jhabua after blast

Two days after an explosion claimed 89 lives in Petlawad town in tribal Jhabua district, the police today recovered 69 detonators and large number of gelatin sticks from the residence of the brother of the main accused in the incident. Rajendra Kasawa, the main accused in connection with the...
12:44

NDA to announce Bihar seat-sharing at 1 pm

The NDA will announce its seat-sharing formula for the Bihar assembly election at 1 pm today at its party headquarters in New Delhi. Briefing the press will be the BJP president Amit Shah, along with other Bihar NDA leaders. 
12:13

Arun Shourie does not have a Twitter account!

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We posted a few tweets purportedly from Dr Arun Shourie, the legendary journalist and commentator, on Live! about Maharashtra politics on Saturday. Dr Shourie told us this morning that he does not have a Twitter account, that he has never posted anything on Twitter and is not following...
12:09

Bombay HC allows meat sale on September 17

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Just in: The Bombay high court has stayed ban on the sale of meat on September 17. This means that meat sale will be allowed on Thursday. Under fire for its decision to ban slaughter and sale of meat in Mumbai for two days during Jain festival 'Paryushan', the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation...
11:44

SC extends protection from arrest to Dayanidhi Maran in corruption case

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The Supreme Court has extended a stay on former union minister Dayanidhi Maran's arrest in a corruption case. It has given him time till October 1 to reply. Maran had moved the Supreme Court and obtained a stay and sought more time to file response on the government's reply on his petition. The...
11:33

Bangkok blast: Pakistani, 2 others detained in Malaysia

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A Pakistani man is among the three people detained by Malaysian police in connection with Thailand's deadliest bombing at a Brahma temple last month that claimed 20 lives, officials said today. Three suspects -- a Pakistani man and two Malaysians -- were detained a few days ago, Malaysia's...
11:22

After meat ban, Rajasthan cancels Bakr-Id holiday

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In the middle of a row over a meat ban for a Jain fasting festival,  a government order in Rajasthan has stirred more controversy.Days after announcing a meat ban, Rajasthan has ordered schools and colleges to prepare for blood donation camps on September 25, to mark the birth anniversary of...
11:16

Bihar polls: BJP, Manjhi finalise seat-sharing deal

Just in: The Bharatiya Janata Party and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi seal a seat-sharing deal for the Bihar elections. A formal announcement will be made in a press conference to be held at 1 pm.  
10:37

Bihar polls: Manjhi at Amit Shah's residence, adamant on 25 seats for HAM

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Just in: Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi reaches Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah's residence in New Delhi to finalise seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Bihar polls. Ahead of the meeting Manji, who launched his Hindustani Avam Morcha-secular after a fallout with the...
09:39

7/11 sentencing today, state may seek death for only 8 convicts

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The Special MCOCA court which had convicted 12 persons in connection with the 7/11 blasts on Friday will deliver the quantum of sentence today. The prosecution may seek death sentence for eight of the 12 convicted in the 2006 blasts in Mumbai that had killed 189 and injured 817, as seven bombs...
09:26

69 detonators found in godown linked to accused in MP blast

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As investigations continue into Saturday's deadly explosion in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district that killed over 90 people, the police have recovered 69 detonators from a godown owned by the brother of the accused who is on the run.Rajendra Kasawa, who the police are looking for, had stocked...
08:56

Your accomplishments make us proud, PM tweets after Sania's US Open win

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congragulated Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis on winning the US Open women's doubles title. Congratulations @MirzaSania & @mhingis on the phenomenal victory at the @usopen. Your accomplishments make us proud, the prime minister tweeted....
08:45

TV debate on Radhe Maa turns violent, woman slaps 'godman'

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Shocking scenes were witnessed on the national television last night when two guests on a live show used expletives, slapped and grappled with each other, leaving the audience aghast and prompting the channel to condemn the incident. A self-styled godman Om Ji of the Hindu Mahasabha and and woman...
08:38

16 dead after lorry overturns in Andhra Pradesh

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At least 16 people were killed and several others injured when the lorry they were travelling in tilted on the roadside in east Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh today. The lorry carrying about 35 agricultural labourers tilted at Gandepalli in east Godavari district in the early hours,...
08:34

Top headlines in the last 24 hours

Hingis, Sania end perfect U.S. Open with doubles titleZuckerberg to host Modi at Facebook headquarters in CaliforniaUP: 2 days before court appearance rape victim shot dead  Jitan Ram Manjhi's son detained with Rs 4.65 lakh cash in BiharYesterday's live commentary