IS claims responsibility for Russian plane crash in Egypt

A Russian aircraft carrying more than 220 people crashed on Saturday in a remote mountainous region in the Sinai Peninsula more than 20 minutes after takeoff from a Red Sea resort popular with Russian tourists. Egyptian military and security officials say there are no survivors from the Russian passenger plane.

Here are the latest updates

1950 IST

A militant group affiliated to Islamic State in Egypt claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Saturday, the group said in a statement circulated by supporters on Twitter.

Egyptian security sources earlier on Saturday said early investigations suggested the plane crashed due to a technical fault.

The claim of responsibility was also carried by the Aamaq website which acts as a semi official news agency for Islamic State.

"The fighters of the Islamic State were able to down a Russian plane over Sinai province that was carrying over 220 Russian crusaders. They were all killed, thanks be to God," the statement circulated on Twitter said.

1946 IST

17 children among those killed in crash.

1900 IST

At a hotel near St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport, the friends and relatives of those on the Metrojet flight that crashed in Egypt are gathering to grieve.

Yulia Zaitseva said her friends, a newlywed couple named Elena Rodina and Alexqander Krotov, were on the flight. Both were 33. Egyptian officials said all 224 people on the flight were Russian and there were no survivors.

Zaitseva says Saturday that her friend “really wanted to go to Egypt, though I told her ‘why the hell do you want to go to Egypt?’”

She says “we were friends for 20 years. She was a very good friend who was ready to give everything to other people. To lose such a friend is like having your hand cut off.”

She said Rodina’s parents feel “like their lives are over.”

1845 IST

U.S. officials have offered their condolences to Russia and to all the families involved in the crash of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reports that “We don’t know any details about it, but obviously the initial reports represent tremendous tragedy, loss, and we extend our condolences to the families and all those concerned.”

Mr. Kerry spoke on Saturday while on a visit to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan.

Egyptian officials say all 224 people 217 passengers and seven crew on the Metrojet flight were Russian and there were no survivors in Saturday’s crash in the Sinai Peninsula.

Officials say all the victims in Saturday’s Metrojet plane crash were Russian citizens

1805 IST

The aircraft was carrying 214 Russian passengers and three Ukrainians, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement.

Out of the total 217 passengers, 138 were women, 62 men and 17 were children, the cabinet statement

1800 IST

Several Egyptian military and security officials say there are no survivors from the Russian passenger plane carrying 224 people that crashed into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

The officials all spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Aviation experts have reached the crash site near the city of el-Arish.

Officials say all the victims in Saturday’s Metrojet plane crash were Russian citizens.

1650 IST

Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top investigative body, has opened an investigation into the crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula for possible violations of flight safety procedures.

Committee spokesman Sergei Markin made the announcement in a statement on Saturday.

An Egyptian aviation official says the pilot of Metrojet Flight 7K9268 had reported technical difficulties early Saturday and planned an emergency landing at the nearest airport before losing contact with Egyptian air traffic controllers and crashing.

1615 IST

An Egyptian aviation official says the pilot of the Russian airliner that crashed in the Sinai Peninsula had reported technical difficulties before losing contact with air traffic controllers.

Ayman al-Muqadem, a member of the Aviation Incidents Committee, said the pilot had reported his intention to attempt to land at the nearest airport.

1605 IST

Egyptian authorities say the wreckage of a Russian passenger jet has been found in area where Egyptian forces are fighting an Islamic militant insurgency.

Egyptian security forces have been waging major operations against a burgeoning insurgency in the northern Sinai peninsula, including the city of el-Arish. Egyptian officials say the wreckage was found in the Hassana area south of el-Arish.

The long-restive northern Sinai has seen a spike in attacks targeting security forces since the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in 2013. An Islamic State affiliate has claimed responsibility for many of the deadly attacks. The Egyptian government has restricted journalists’ access to the area.

1535 IST

Russia’s civil air agency is expected to have a news conference shortly to talk about the Russian Metrojet passenger plane that Egyptian authorities say has crashed in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.

Officials were gathering at a hotel adjacent to the St. Petersburg airport, where Egyptian officials say the plane was heading with 217 passengers and 7 crew members.

The plane took off early Saturday from Sharm el-Sheikh, a popular Red Sea tourist destination for Russians. Plane tracking website Flight Radar said Metrojet flight 7K9268 disappeared over Egypt 23 minutes after takeoff.

1455 IST

Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed that a Russian passenger plane has crashed in the Sinai peninsula.

The ministry said earlier Saturday it had lost contact with a Russian aircraft carrying 217 passengers and 7 crew members.

A statement carried by Egypt’s state-run MENA news agency says the plane took off from Sinai’s Sharm el-Sheikh, a popular destination for Russian tourists, at 5.51 a.m. (local time) on Saturday and disappeared from radar screens 23 minutes after takeoff.

It said the aircraft was bound for St. Petersburg in Russia. A search and rescue team is looking for the plane.

The Airbus A 321, operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia with registration number KGL-9268, was flying from the Sinai Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg in Russia when it went down in a desolate mountainous area of central Sinai soon after daybreak, the aviation ministry said.

The security officer at the scene told Reuters by telephone that search and rescue teams heard voices in a section of the plane.

"I now see a tragic scene. A lot of dead on the ground and many who died whilst strapped to their seats," the officer, who requested anonymity, said.

"The plane split into two, a small part on the tail end that burned and a larger part that crashed into a rock. We have extracted at least 100 bodies and the rest are still inside."

Sinai is the scene of an insurgency by militants who support Islamic State. The rebels have killed hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police and have also attacked Western targets in recent months.

Russia launched air raids against Syrian opposition groups including Islamic State on Sept. 30. But Egyptian security sources said there was no indication that the Airbus jet had been shot down or blown up.

Premier heads to scene

The A321 is a 185-seat medium-haul jet in service since 1994, with over 1,100 in operation worldwide. It is a highly automated aircraft relying on computers to help pilots stay within safe flying limits.

Saturday's crash is the second fatal accident involving this variant of the A320 jetliner family, according to data from the Flight Safety Foundation. Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail was heading to the crash site with several cabinet ministers on a private jet, the tourism ministry said.

The aircraft took off at 5:51 a.m. Cairo time (0351 GMT) and disappeared from radar screens 23 minutes later, Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement. It was at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 metres) when it vanished from radar screens.

After delays caused by poor weather conditions, Egyptian search and rescue teams located the site of the crash in the Hassana area 35 km (22 miles) south of the Sinai Mediterranean coastal city of Al Arish, the aviation ministry statement said.

Read More

Pain of not getting farewell game shall always remain: Sehwag

Virender Sehwag, who has recently called time on his glorious international cricket career, says the sadness of being “deprived of a farewell game shall always remain” in his mind.

“Had the selectors told me that they were going to drop me, I could have requested them to allow me to play my last Test in Delhi and then announce my retirement, but they did not give me that opportunity.

“A sort of sadness shall always remain in my mind that I was not allowed to retire while playing, but anyway, it’s all a part of life for a sportsman, who, while playing, never realizes when he should retire, but he starts thinking about it when he is dropped,” Sehwag said.

The explosive batsman made 23 Test centuries and 15 tons in ODIs.

“I would like to ask: Should not a player who has played 12 to 13 years for his country, deserves a farewell match?”

On organizers planning to give him a farewell during the forthcoming Test in Delhi between India and South Africa starting December 3, Sehwag said: “If that is so, it will be good. If BCCI cannot organised, at least DDCA should do. It’s not a question of me alone, every player who retires should get a farewell.”

The former opener said there should be fixed criteria for selection of players, whether senior or junior.

“If a player fails to perform in four or five consecutive matches, he should be dropped irrespective of whether he is a senior or a junior player,” he said.

Sehwag recounted an incident involving Australian player Michael Clarke.

“I and Sachin were batting in Australia. Michael Clarke had been inducted fresh. He was frequently telling Sachin ‘you’re too old, you can’t field, you can’t do this, you can’t do that’ I went up to Clarke and asked his age. He said, 23. I told him Tendulkar has made more centuries than your age”.

The 37-year-old further said, “Had India played two more Test series against Pakistan, I could have completed 10,000 Test runs. I have made 8,586 Test runs. We stopped playing home series or away series against Pakistan since 2006. If you see my batting averages particularly against Pakistan, you will find my batting averages between 90 and 100.”

Asked why he had been prolific in his performances particularly against Pakistan, Sehwag said, “It’s because of rivalry between both countries in sports. The grounds are always full, and the expectations among fans are high. This is because Pakistan was earlier a part of undivided India, that’s why the rivalry is big and everybody becomes excited.”

Read More

27 dead in night club fire in Bucharest: Interior Minister

A heavy metal band’s pyrotechnical show sparked a deadly fire on Friday at a Bucharest nightclub, killing 27 people and injuring scores of the club’s mostly youthful patrons, officials and witnesses said.

Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea initially said an explosion occurred at Collective club, located in a basement in a building in downtown Bucharest, a city of 3 million people, but authorities heading the rescue effort later said there had been a fire and no explosion.

Witnesses told Antena 3 TV that there were between 300 to 400 mostly young people at the club, housed in a former factory, and only one exit door when the metal band Goodbye to Gravity was performing and a pyrotechnical show went awry. The station reported that people panicked and rushed for the exit.

Digi 24 television station cited witnesses who said a spark on stage ignited some polystyrene decor.

Media reported that club-goers initially thought the flames were part of the show and did not immediately react. Fire regulations can be lax in Bucharest clubs and restaurants.

An Associated Press photographer at the scene saw people wandering around outside the club clad in emergency blankets in an apparent state of confusion.

Upon hearing the news, people descended on the club looking for loved ones. Adding to their anxiety was the fact that many of the club-goers were not carrying identity papers so victims could not immediately be identified.

“She’s not answering the telephone and she’s not saying anything,” said a mother, dressed in a black leather jacket, crying in front of television cameras.

“We want information whether he’s alive,” said a visibly overcome woman, speaking about a family member.

Media reported that emergency services arrived 11 minutes after the first call at 10-32 p.m. (2032 GMT).

Victor Ionescu, who was at the club with his girlfriend, told Antena 3 TV that “people were fainting, they were fainting from the smoke. It was total chaos, people were trampling on each other.”

A young man filmed by Antena 3 said that flames engulfed club-goers, burning their skin and hair.

Several major nightclub fires have been blamed on pyrotechnics igniting foam used for soundproofing, including The Station nightclub fire in the U.S. that killed 100 people in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in 2003 and the Kiss nightclub fire in Brazil, which killed 242 people in the university town of Santa Maria in 2013.

Raed Arafat, a government emergency situation official, said that people were treated for burns, smoke inhalation and lesions at hospitals around the capital.

“It is a tragedy without precedent and it is an intervention without precedent,” he said.

Oprea called an emergency government meeting for Saturday morning to discuss the situation.

According to the Bucharest—based metal band’s Facebook page, lead singer Andrei Gault was the 2008 winner of “Megastar,” a Romanian show similar to “American Idol.” The band has five members and has released two albums since it formed in 2011.

President Klaus Iohannis wrote on his Facebook page that he was “shaken and deeply hurt by the tragic event. ... It is a very sad moment for us all, for our nation and for me personally.” He said he was considering declaring a day of national mourning.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta, on a visit to Mexico, said he was cutting short his visit to return to Bucharest.

The Ministry said there were 60 ambulances and fire engines were sent to the scene and a mobile hospital had been set up outside. About 180 people were injured, with some 50 of them taken to the Floreasca emergency hospital, the Ministry said.

Read More

Violent protests, shutdown in Kashmir over killing of Lashkar man

Violent protests broke out in Srinagar after Friday prayers when the security forces disallowed a funeral prayer in absentia for slain Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘commander’ Abu Qasim, killed in an encounter in South Kashmir on Thursday.

Protesters, mainly youth, took to the main entrance of Jamia Masjid in the old city and tried to offer funeral prayers. Some youth flagged banners of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, still active in South Kashmir.

The protesters were hurling rocks and throwing fired smoke shells back at the security personnel at the time of filing of this report.

Several parts of three districts in South Kashmir — Kulgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag — held protests and spontaneous shutdown over the killing of 28-year-old Qasim.

He was killed in Kulgam on Thursday morning. He was behind several spectacle attacks in the State, including the attack on BSF convoy in Udhampur in August 2015 and killing of top counter-insurgency cop Altaf Ahmad.

Separatists have paid tributes to the slain commander too. Hundreds of people participated in his funeral on Thursday. Armed militants reportedly joined the funeral prayers and opened fire in the air. Around 16 protesters were injured during the Thursday protests.

In a statement issued in Srinagar, LeT chief Mahmood Shah described Qasim, whose real name was Abdul Rehman, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, as “a meticulous planner”.

“The happiness of killing Qasim will not last long for the security forces. We will fight till the freedom of Kashmir,” threatened Shah.

Security across the Valley has been beefed up, including capital Srinagar where random check points have been set up to stop any militant sneaking in the city centre.

Read More

Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel, flags off 'Run for Unity'

• 
  
  

On the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to the leader and flagged off the 'Run for Unity' event. The day is being celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day).

Mr. Modi also took to twitter to pay his tributes to former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.

8:30 am: A large number of people, including schoolchildren and sportsperson, are expected to join the ‘Run for Unity’.

8:15 am: Mr. Modi flags off 'Run for Unity'.

8:12 am: The Prime Minister administers a pledge to the thousands gathered at Rajpath.

8:07 am: I bow to Sardar Patel. May his blessings always be with the nation and inspire us to scale newer heights: Modi

8:05 am: 'Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat' once implemented will be states recognising and learning about another state's culture and language: Modi

8:04 am: 'Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat' is a yojana (scheme) we are planning to start: Modi

8:02 am: Sardar Patel inspires the thought that there is no family name or members linked to his legacy: Modi

8:01 am: This effort went on under strict eye of Sardar Patel and it was Gandhiji who noted and appreciated the effort: Modi

8:00 am: Sardar Patel started a Swachta Abhiyaan that went on for 222 days: Modi

7:57 am: After Chanakya, it was Sardar Patel who strung India together with unity: Modi

7:50 am: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ideology and heritage cannot be forgotten. He contributed immensely to India's unity: Modi

7:40 am: PM Modi offers tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.

7:39 am: As we are commemorating Vallabhbhai Patel, we also remember Indira Gandhi this day: Modi

Around 15,000 participants are set to take part in the event and they will arrive at the starting point in buses and cars, said the traffic police.

Delhi police’s advisory before ‘Run for Unity’ event

After being stuck in heavy traffic for two straight days because of the India-Africa Forum Summit, city motorists are in for jam-packed roads yet again on Saturday.

The ‘Run for Unity’ event, to be flagged off by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, will keep some prominent roads in Lutyens’ Zone out of bounds for regular traffic in the morning.

While Rajpath and Rafi Marg will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., Janpath and Mansingh Road will be closed between 7 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., the traffic police said.

The event will start at Rajpath and conclude at Rajpath before the ‘C’ Hexagon of India Gate. Sandeep Goel, Joint CP (Traffic), said that suitable diversions would be enforced as required.

The traffic department has advised motorists to avoid the New Delhi area in the morning hours and plan their journeys in advance.

Around 15,000 participants are set to take part in the event and they will arrive at the starting point in buses and cars, said the traffic police.

The event will be attended by cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs and bureaucrats, among others.

Read More

Sachin didn’t do justice to his talent: Kapil Dev

Former India captain Kapil Dev says the iconic Sachin Tendulkar “did not know how to make double hundreds, triple hundreds and 400 though he had the ability” to scale such peaks and was “stuck in the Mumbai school of cricket”.

“Don’t get me wrong, but I think Sachin didn’t do justice to his talent. I always thought he could have done much more than what he did,” Dev was quoted as saying by the ‘Khaleej Times’.

“He (Sachin) got stuck with Bombay cricket. He didn’t apply himself to the ruthless international cricket. I think he should have spent more time with Vivian Richards than some of the Bombay guys who played just neat and straight cricket.

“Sachin was a much better cricketer but somewhere along the line he just knew how to score hundreds. He didn’t know how to make it a double hundred, or a triple or even 400s,” added the 1983 World Cup winning India captain.

The great all-rounder, under whose captaincy India won its maiden World Cup in 1983, said he would have advised Tendulkar to play like Virender Sehwag.

“He (Sachin) had the ability. He was technically sound but I felt he was there to get his hundred and that’s it.

Unlike Richards, Sachin wasn’t ruthless, he was more of a perfect, or rather correct cricketer. Had I spent more time with him I would have told him ‘go enjoy yourself, play like Virender Sehwag’. You will be a much better cricketer.”

The 56-year-old Dev made these remarks before a select crowd at the Cove Beach Club at Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai alongside three other cricketing icons — Shane Warne, Wasim Akram and Ian Botham.

Spin legend Warne remarked that Tendulkar was special.

“He is a wonderful player and in my 20-odd years of playing, he is the best batsman that I played against. The expectations he was under and the skill he had against fast and spin. The way he judged the balls. He was great for the game of cricket and he was a fantastic and wonderful player.

He dominated bowlers in the mid-90s and he was just outstanding against any bowler. He also played exceptionally well against Australia,” said Warne.

“I now see Sachin’s different side as I am now doing business with him. He is a wonderful friend,” he added.

Pace bowling great Akram regretted for having played much against Tendulkar.

“One of the regrets Waqar Younis and I had as a bowler is that we never played Test cricket against Tendulkar for nearly 10 years,” he said.

“We played against Sachin when he made his debut in 1989 when he was 16 and then, we played Tests against Sachin in 1999 in India. As Warne said, he was the best in the game and 100 international hundreds speaks volumes of his talent.”

When the former greats were asked to name the best they had played against, Kapil said: “I think Viv in my time is the best I have seen. More than his cricket, it was the way he played the game and his attitude. I loved to take his wicket all the time.”

Botham echoed similar sentiments: “Viv Richards is certainly the best player I have seen in all formats of the game. I don’t think there has been anyone better. I remember in Old Trafford we left him in the raps and Michael Holding came out to bat and 200 runs later, Richards was 189 not out — which was obscene. You bowl him outside the off stump with a packed field, and he will flick you into the grandstand on the leg side. He never read the MCC coaching annual.”

Akram added: “When I started out, it was the great Viv Richards and the Little Master Sunil Gavaskar. I got out him out only once. In the 90s, it was (Brian) Lara and Tendulkar.”

Read More

Goof-ups’ mar India-Africa Summit

At 7.10 p.m. on the last day of the India-Africa Forum Summit, a sudden drama was witnessed when the First Lady of South Africa, Gloria Bongekile Ngema Zuma, moved restlessly in her seat. It was understood by the organizers that she was eager to leave as she was getting late for the evening engagement.

It was evident that the biggest multilateral diplomatic event of the year, which sparkled with glamour, however was running almost two hours behind the schedule. The summit went on for more than two hours beyond its stipulated timeline, jeopardizing plans for the Presidential banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

What made things worse outside was the traffic snarl which ensured that lower level delegates would be stuck in the traffic for long. According to the media advisory for the summit, President Pranab Mukherjee was scheduled to welcome guests at 7 p.m. However, the summit was still going strong with almost eight speakers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet to speak at 7 p.m.

The event also began late, though the organizers had planned things meticulously. A major debate backstage took place on the name and the honorific of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson, AUC, as her name went up on the big screen with the usual H.E., which failed to display due gender difference. A junior diplomat also made the presentation difficult when he insisted that the African names should be read in Hindi style. However, finally he was made to withdraw his erratic demand.

Another issue was, of course, the last-minute arrival of the heads of the state that gave very little time to ensure that they were informed of the stage management protocol. As a result, several heads of the state spoke beyond the prescribed time limit. A back stage source later told The Hindu that it appeared that the importance of the three lights (green, orange and red) overhead meant to indicate the time limit for speech, was not adequately explained to the various delegations as the guests continued to speak even when the red light was blinking.

However, the event’s best part was that the chief organizer, Syed Akbaruddin, Additional Secretary of the MEA, kept his cool and presence of mind. At one point after the group photograph in the morning, several leaders stood up to leave even before the photograph session was over.

Read More

Kamal Haasan meets Raj Thackeray

Southern superstar Kamal Haasan on Friday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray here.

Mr. Haasan visited Mr. Thackeray at his residence at around 9:20 am and also met his wife Sharmila and daughter Urvashi.

The 60-year-old actor was welcomed with a shawl and bouquet.

“We are old friends and I just came to meet him...shake hands,” Mr. Hassan said.

“He (Raj Thackeray) welcomed Mr. Kamal Hassan with shawl and flowers. It was just a casual meeting... there was no agenda behind it. They are friends, so he (Hassan) just came to meet him (Thackeray),” MNS spokesperson Sandip Deshpande said.

The meeting between the two bigwigs lasted for at least half an hour.

Read More

I am not a 'bahari' in Bihar, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed two election rallies in Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

Highlights of his speech:

1. The process of the first three phase elections in Bihar went on peacefully.

2. I am astonished that as soon as this election is coming to an end, the grand alliance is getting impatient.

3. Nitish Babu, Lalu ji, the more you spill the dirt, the more the Kamaal (lotus) will blossom.

4. People in goverance should give the account of the work they have done during elections. In 2019, during the Lok Sabha elections, when I come back I will have to give account of work I did in 5 years.

5. When the youth votes for a party, it has the right to know the account of work the party has done.

6. Congress has ruled Bihar for 35 years, Lalu ji ruled for 15 years and Nitish Babu ruled for 10 years. Altogether, they have ruled for 60 years in Bihar. Have they given you account of their work last 60 years?

9. Nitish Babu says that Modi is Bahari (outsider). When Bihar has voted for me to become the PM then how can I be an outsider?

10. Do you call Sonia ji, who stays in Delhi, Bihari or Bahari (an outsider)?

11. Congress ruled for 35 years, but they didn't do anything for development.

12. Since 25 years, people of Bihar made sure Congress does not rule again.

13. Lalu-ji was genious in fooling the people of Bihar. But, when the truth emerged, people of Bihar replaced Lalu ji with Nitish Kumar.

14. Even Nitish Kumar could not give any account on what work they did for the state.

15. The poor people need government schools for education. They need government hospitals.

16. Government is for those who do not have support of anyone. We want to build a government for poor people.

17. We will give loans to the poor people, so that they can use it for their development.

18. Around 3 lakh people utilised the loan services in Bihar.

19. It is a happy news for me, that all the services introduced by the Central government have been utilised by people of Bihar.

20. There is only one way, that is 'Vikaas'.

21. We fought against corruption, we have been in service for 16 months, but nobody can blame me for corruption.

22. India is moving further with honesty. Don't we need an honest government in Bihar?

23. Recently, a minister from Nitish Kumar's cabinet was caught taking bribe to sell Bihar. The people of Bihar will not forget this.

24. Aren't they fooling us? Lalu ji was accused of corruption, he is out on parole. did Nitish Kumar take over his residence and open a school in his house as promised?

25. The biggest problem of Bihar, the development of youth.

26. Shouldn't the youth of Bihar get job opportunities within the state?

27. I have three aims for Bihar: Education, job opportunities, health care.

28. Bihar needs electricity, isn't it? Bihar is the only state in India, where 4,000 villages still do not have electricity.

29. By 2022, we are planning to make sure electricity reaches every village in Bihar.

30. Nitish Kumar did not keep his promise about electricity.

31. 'Vikaas' is the only path for our success.

32. We have to be in 21st century, our youngsters need laptops for successful future.

33. Bihar can be pulled out the hole, only when there is an engine in Bihar and an engine in central government. Pull Bihar out of the hole.

34. Its time for the fourth-phase voting, first we will vote then we will enjoy!

Read More

Help change world order, Sudan tells India

On the third day of the India-Africa Forum Summit, political disagreement over the United States became evident between India and Sudan, one of the major emerging energy suppliers for India. While India focused on the commercial aspect of India-Africa ties, Sudan forcefully demanded that the summit should seek to change the world order.

In the official briefings, the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the trade talks taking place between leaders of India and several African countries during the summit, but Sudan’s Foreign Minister told The Hindu that his country wanted to discuss Africa’s rightful place in the changed United Nations Security Council and also wanted to highlight how American domination of world affairs was proving to be counter-productive.

“We believe that the final statement of the summit should incorporate how an entire continent has been brushed away from the U.N. Security Council due to old power structure of the world order,” said Ibrahim A. Ghandour, Foreign Minister of Sudan, while addressing the media.

Sudan’s President Omar Al Bashir, who was scheduled to land in Delhi on Wednesday evening, is facing an arrest warrant from the International Court of Justice in Rome, and Sudan has interpreted the arrest warrant as a sign of Western conspiracy against its self-driven economic policies. “American actions and sanctions against Sudan have no foundation. Unilateral sanctions from the U.S. need to end,” said Prof. Ghandour. MEA officials, however, refused to acknowledge that some of the summit participants were demanding an end to American domination over the world.

Sudan has also criticised the global human rights campaign against President Al Bashir, suggesting that the campaign was motivated and was a facade for Western interests. India has faced considerable pressure for the last few months to support and act on the ICC’s arrest warrant against Al Bashir.

A few days before the summit began, Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India, said: “Omar al-Bashir stands accused of some of the worst crimes imaginable, including complicity in the killing and torture of thousands of people.”

The human rights campaign has obviously hardened Sudan’s anti-colonial slogans.

Expressing ambitious Sudanese position on several issues of global importance, Prof. Ghandour said that the world was fast changing, and Sudan, with a stable government, would play an active role all the way from the coast of Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

“India is an important buyer of energy from Sudan. Now, we want to diversify the relationship with India and spread it to other areas like security which is crumbling all around due to mishandling,” said Prof. Ghandour who said that India should disregard the old power structure of the world and push harder to get a share of the African market.

Talks with African leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with heads of several African nations during which U.N. reforms, combating challenge of terrorism and boosting trade and investment, particularly in the oil and gas sector, figured prominently.

The African leaders appreciated India’s development projects in their continent. In his meeting, South African President Jacob Zuma strongly called for reform of the global governance system and said the U.N. structure, which was set up after the Second World War, could not remain relevant in 21st Century.

The Prime Minister also met Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, and Chairman of the African Union. Both the leaders discussed issues of common interest, including U.N. reforms and the threat of terrorism.

Read More

Live: 'This century is ours to shape and build', says Modi at India-Africa Forum Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the heads of states of all 54 African nations. Mr. Modi will host bilateral meetings with leaders of countries, including Angola, Ethiopia and Egypt.

What's on the agenda?

Today's meet will see key issues like UNSC reforms, terror cooperation, and access to heathcare being discussed.

Live updates:

Mr. Modi is addressing the African leaders now:

10:39 am: Africa and India are two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy: Modi

10:38 am: Africa’s sports, art and music delight the entire world: Modi

10:37 am: African initiatives are replacing old fault lines with new bridges of regional economic integration: Modi

10:34 am: Two-thirds of India and Africa is under the age of 35. And, if the future belongs to the youth, then this century is ours to shape & build: Modi

10:30 am: The heart beat of 1.25 billion Indians and 1.25 billion Africans are in rhythm: Modi

10:29 am: It is not just a meeting of India & Africa. Today, the dreams of one-third of humanity have come together under one roof: Modi

10:28 am: We are deeply, deeply honoured by your presence today: Modi

10:27 am: Fabric of this world is richer because of the 54 sovereign flags of Africa: Modi

10:26 am: Mr. Modi is speaking at the India-Africa Forum Summit 2015.

10:24 am: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is addressing the Forum Summit, says this is like a family reunion.

Read More

IITs asked to partner industries for funding research projects

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) can soon start applying for government money to fund research, but there’s a caveat; the research has to have “clearly defined outcome” and 25 per cent of the expenses have to be borne by an industry partner.

The Union Ministry for Human Resource an Development has earmarked Rs.250 crore per annum for fostering “very high quality” research in the IITs under the ‘Uchatar Avishkar Yojna’, which will have industry partners with the institutions of excellence.

While the government says the move is to give research relevant to the industry and the campaign to ‘Make in India’ a leg up, the proposal has been received with septicemic in the academic and research circles, given the implications of allowing private players to collaborate with institutions that have been set up with public money.

A source in the Ministry told The Hindu that a large part of the mandate for the IITs was to train very high quality manpower and produce outcomes that are relevant for the design and manufacturing industry.

“We want the IITs to help in the Make in India campaign, by investing in research and link innovation to the industry to make the latter competitive in the global markets,” said an official. The Rs.250-crore purse will be used to fund several projects for up to Rs.5 crore, provided they meet the standards stipulated.

“The proposals will have to specify the time-frame, the outcome and the benefits that the industry stands to gain from the research to be eligible for the funds. We are looking at Rs.1,500 crore over the next three years to give manufacturing a boost,” the official explained.

Disagreeing with the government’s view that involving private players will make the industry competitive, Dunu Roy, an IIT alumnus and director of the non-government organisation Hazard Centre, said the move would act contrary to the claims.

“This proposal will shift the focus from fundamental research to applied research; thereby not allowing the scope of research to expand. To be competitive, equal weight-age has to be given to fundamental research, which forms the basis of applied research. Second, with the private companies partnering in research, there will be the issues of intellectual property rights,” Mr. Roy said.

An official of an IIT not wishing to be quoted, said that while there was a yawning gap between the industry and the academia, there was a need to guard against privatisation of public institutions. The scheme will initially be limited to the IITs.

Read More

We’ve pinned Modi down, says Lalu

A day before Tej Pratap and Tejaswi, sons of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, face the electorate in the third phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on Wednesday, The Hindu interacted with the Yadav family, including its patriarch, on the prospects of the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan and the ups and downs of the campaign.

As the last-minute preparations for polling in Raghopur and Mahua (from where Tejaswi and Tej Pratap are contesting) go on in the former Chief Minister’s sprawling Circular Road bungalow here on Tuesday, Mr. Lalu Prasad said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack on his party and family members “is a recognition of the fact that we [the Grand Alliance] have managed to pin him down.”

“The BJP and [Prime Minister] Modi are taken aback by the fact that the RJD and the Congress are working to establish Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar again, and not only that, this election is not a fight for just one State, but between Mr. Modi and all who value socialism and secularism,” he said.

“It was because we were scattered that he was able to become Prime Minister. After these elections, you will see how the situation in Indian politics changes,” he said. “This is not Maharashtra or Haryana, this is Bihar,” he added for good measure.

Asked about his earlier differences with Mr. Nitish Kumar and what prompted him to endorse him as the chief ministerial candidate, Mr. Lalu Prasad said: Woh sab hawa ho gaya [Our differences melted into the air].”

His daughter Misa Bharti had more details of what weighed in on that decision.

“We were not sure our vote transference would take place if we announced a name, but the feedback from the ground assured us that this was not an issue,” Ms. Bharti said.

Hamare paas dulha declared hai, inke paas dulha kahaan hai? [Our bridegroom has been declared, where is theirs (NDA)],” Mr. Lalu Prasad asked. He took exception to what Mr. Modi said at a rally on Monday about a conspiracy to bring in reservation for “a certain community” and dilute the provision for the backward classes.

“He is ignorant. Everyone knows that nobody can give reservation in this country on the basis of religion. Earlier he had used gau maas [beef] to polarise voters. He is spreading a virus, but I have the DDT spray,” he said. He also objected to what the Prime Minister said about Misa Bharti at the rally. Beti, beti hoti hai[a girl child is everyone’s daughter]. My daughter has an MBBS degree, polled three lakh votes in her election. On the one hand, he [Mr. Modi] says beti padhao, beti badhao, and then says things like this,” he said.

Read More

Maruti’s premium hatchback Baleno launched at Rs. 4.99 lakh

Maruti Suzuki on Monday rolled out its premium hatchback Baleno with an aggressive price tag in a bid to cash in on the festive season. The car maker has announced an introductory starting price of Rs. 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The company has provided dual airbags and ABS in all variants.

Baleno’s petrol model, powered by 1.2 litre VVT engine, will be available in five variants with price ranging from Rs. 4.99 lakh to Rs. 6.76 lakh.

The diesel variant, powered by DDiS 190 diesel engine, will come in four variants and will be priced in the range between Rs. 6.16 lakh and Rs. 8.11 lakh.

Petrol model, which also includes a CVT option (Continuously Variable Transmission), promise a fuel economy of 21.4 kmpl, while diesel model promises 27.4 kmpl.

It will be sold in seven colour options — Autumn Orange, Ray Blue, Pearl Arctic White, Granite Grey, Fire Red, Premium Urban Blue and Metallic Premium Silver.

“At the introductory price announced by Maruti Suzuki today, Baleno offers substantially more value to customers and is set to redefine the premium hatchback segment in the country. Baleno will be sold through NEXA, the new chain of premium exclusive automotive retail outlets recently launched by Maruti Suzuki,” said a company statement.

The Company and its suppliers have invested over Rs.1,060 crore in developing the new sub-4 metre Baleno.

The new Maruti Baleno is expected to be positioned in the premium hatchback segment comprising models such as Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Punto.

The made-in-India Baleno will be exported to over 100 countries.

“Baleno is a real global model, to satisfy our customers not only in India but also across global markets. I am excited that this model will be exported to Japan from India, opening a new chapter in the long history of Maruti Suzuki,” Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki, Mr. Kenichi Ayukawa said.

Read More

Chhota Rajan arrested in Indonesia

Fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan, one of India’s most wanted criminals and a leading figure in the Mumbai underworld, was arrested at Bali in Indonesia on Sunday. Rajan gained widespread sympathy and public attention after he broke away from Dawood Ibrahim gang, condemning it for carrying out the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

The Indonesian authorities are believed to have initiated steps for Rajan’s deportation to India. Confirming the don’s arrest, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the media that the Central Bureau of Investigation and other security agencies are in touch with their Indonesian counterparts to expedite Rajan’s deportation. Mr. Singh said the Indian government had been trying to arrest Rajan for a long time and had made a request to Interpol in this regard. "We had issued a notice (through the Interpol)," he said.

“It is a major success. The CBI had been pursuing the matter with the Australian authorities and this led to Rajan’s arrest by the Bali Police,” said CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh. A senior officer said that it was the CBI which alerted the Australian authorities about Rajan’s presence in their country, and his planned trip to Bali.

Tipped off by the Australian authorities from Canberra, the Indonesian police intercepted Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chotta Rajan soon after he landed at Denpasar airport in Bali. His arrest was on the basis of an Interpol red-corner notice issued against him way back in 1995 for committing criminal acts such as murder, running an organised crime syndicate, conspiracy etc.

The police seized an Indian passport issued in the name of Mohan Kumar from the 55-year-old gangster. Suspected to be involved in over 20 murder cases, Rajan had been living in Australia for the past seven years under an assumed name. He flew out to Bali from Sydney on board a Garuda Indonesia flight.

Though India has no extradition treaty with Indonesia, officials said they were confident that Rajan would soon be deported, as in the case of Anil Bastawade, a key accused in the money laundering case against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda. Bastawade was deported from Indonesia in 2013.

Rajan’s arrest in the latest twist in the dramatic life of the lower middleclass boy from Chembur, who took to crime early in school, joined Dawood Ibrahim gang, and split away from the most powerful underworld don protesting against the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Reports emerged in summer that Dawood gang had made elaborate plan to attack Rajan in Australia. Alerted in time, Rajan had yet another narrow escape. In September 2000, he was not so lucky when a hit squad led by Dawood’s lieutenant Chhota Shakeel tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok, killing his associate Rohit Varma and his wife. Despite bullet injuries, Rajan managed to escape and was admitted to a hospital, from where he slipped away and went underground.

School dropout who turned gangster

Born in a lower middle class family in Central Mumbai’s Chembur suburb, Rajan grew up with two brothers and a sister. His father worked as a shopkeeper with a pharmaceutical company. Rajan dropped out of a municipal school after Class V. In 1974-75, he joined gangster Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan’s gang that was chiefly into selling black market movie tickets. The gang was also involved in running gambling rackets. People started calling him Chhota Rajan soon.

Rajan took over the gang’s reins after his mentor was eliminated by a rival gang in 1983. In no time, Rajan started working with Dawood Ibrahim and soon became a close aide, to the discomfort of some other members of D gang.

After the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, Rajan parted ways with the alleged mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, accusing him of indulging in “anti-national activities”, to run a parallel gang. What followed was a bloody gang war that saw many on both sides getting killed. In his interviews to the media, Rajan said he would go to any extent to eliminate Dawood.

Rajan played a crucial role in eliminating several key Dawood aides, and also in disrupting many of his financial interests in Mumbai. In the post-Mumbai blast phase, Rajan also began to enjoy good contact with many in the security establishment, and he became an important tool in the all out efforts to finish off Dawood gang.

In recent years, Rajan was known for his boisterous claims, and had a nomadic life, moving from country to country, seeking safe hideout. Many intelligence operatives believed that he was past his prime, and was spending a peaceful life away from the bloodied underworld operations.

As much as it is about him, the arrest of Rajan is also about the renewed focus on Dawood Ibrahim, his mentor-turned-rival, whose shadow hangs over a large part of Indian security establishment discourse in recent months.

Read More