UP: CBI to probe terror suspect Khalid Mujahid's death Lucknow: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe how Khalid Mujahid, an accused in the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, died while being taken to a prison in Lucknow from Barabanki on Saturday. Forty-two policemen, including senior officers, have been booked for the alleged murder of Khalid. Among the police officers booked are former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh and DGP (Training) Brij Lal.

Police claim Khalid, who was being brought to Lucknow after a court hearing, suffered a heart attack during his transit and was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Dharmendra Singh Yadav, DIG of Faizabad, said the autopsy report would confirm the cause of death. He said Khalid's condition suddenly deteriorated near the Ram Snehi Ghat in Faizabad and he fainted.

The serial blasts of 2007 had rocked Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Faizabad. Khalid was one of the accused for whom the state government had recommended withdrawal of cases. The move was quashed by a court earlier this week.

The Akhilesh Yadav government has ordered a separate inquiry into Khalid's death. "We have taken the matter seriously. A high level committee has been formed to investigate the case," said state Home Secretary Rakesh Mishra. On the inquiry panel are Mishra, an additional director general of police and an inspector general of police, said a statement issued by the chief minister's office....more    
04:24 PM, May 19, 2013

Live blog: Uthappa falls but Finch on the offensive Live updates from Game 71 between Pune Warriors India and Delhi Daredevils at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. Pune Warriors India host Delhi Daredevils in a match which will decide who takes the last spot in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League. Both teams have a tournament to forget, each picking up just three wins in 15 matches and it's hard to say who is the favourite going into...  
03:15 PM, May 19, 2013

Serious flaw in MGNREGA implementation in MP: Audit report Bhopal: Serious irregularities like non-submission of utilisation certificates and delay in payment of wages to beneficiaries among others have come to notice in an official report on the implementation of MGNREGA scheme in Madhya Pradesh. It was also found that the state government was not following necessary budgetary procedures while seeking grant from the Centre under the flagship programme. It was noticed during the inspection in eight districts that the...  
03:15 PM, May 19, 2013

Brazilian president Rousseff opens Brasilia World Cup stadium
by IANS
Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff officially opened Brasilia's Mane Garrincha World Cup stadium. Despite controversy surrounding delays and cost overruns, Rousseff said the 71,000-seat venue was now the source of pride among Brazilians, reports Xinhua. "A year ago they said that we wouldn't build our stadiums, that they wouldn't be ready. But now we are seeing that the stadiums have been built and are being opened. I am...  
03:00 PM, May 19, 2013

Govt mulls putting cap on preferred seats on airlines New Delhi: The recent 'unbundling' of some services such as seat preferences or meals on board might be helping airlines to earn a lot of ancillary revenue, but the government is considering whether it could limit the number of 'preferred seats' on sale on each flight. The government has been prompted to step in just days after it announced unbundling of these services following reports that some airlines were charging...  
12:48 PM, May 19, 2013

Take gradual initiatives: Kayani to Sharif on ties with India
by
Islamabad: In the backdrop of Nawaz Sharif's positive remarks on ties with India, powerful Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has suggested Pakistan's Prime Minister - designate to take gradual initiatives with utmost caution for improving relations with New Delhi, a media report said on Sunday. Kayani made the suggestion when he called on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become Prime Minister for a record third term following his...  
12:38 PM, May 19, 2013

Weakened Congress wondering if early elections will help Mumbai: The Congress party is debating holding a General Election in November, six months ahead of schedule, senior party leaders said, reflecting an internal discussion over whether to pull the plug on the shaky ruling coalition or have it serve a full term. Officially, the Congress party says the government - which has been battered by a series of corruption scandals and now governs as a minority after two allies...  
11:45 AM, May 19, 2013

UP: 42 policemen booked for alleged murder of terror suspect Lucknow: Forty-two Uttar Pradesh policemen, including some top officers, have been booked for the alleged murder of Khalid Mujahid, an accused in the serial blasts in the state in 2007. Mujahid died while he was being taken to a Lucknow prison from Barabanki. The state government has ordered a high-level probe in the case. Among the police officers booked are DGP (Training) Brij Lal and former DGP Vikram Singh. Police...  
10:08 AM, May 19, 2013

Real Sociedad, Valencia win to stay in fight for 4th in La Liga Barcelona: Real Sociedad came back to win 2-1 at Sevilla and Valencia beat Getafe 1-0 on Saturday as both teams remained locked on points in their fight for a fourth-place finish in the Spanish league. Sociedad remained ahead of fifth-place Valencia on head-to-head goal difference and in control of Spain's last Champions League spot with two rounds to go. The Basque side fell behind 10 minutes in at Sanchez Pizjuan...  
08:29 AM, May 19, 2013

US Powerball jackpot could go higher than $600 million Austin: The Powerball jackpot Saturday night could be even higher than the record $600 million being advertised, possibly rivaling the largest lottery jackpot in US history, a Texas Lottery official said on Saturday. "Oftentimes, the advertised amount is lower than what the actual jackpot ends up being," said Kelly Cripe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Lottery. "It's entirely possible this $600 million jackpot will end up being a bigger jackpot."...  
07:11 AM, May 19, 2013

Uttarakhand: Ruling Congress MLA Harish Dhami sent to jail Pithoragarh: Ruling Congress MLA in Uttarakhand Harish Dhami on Saturday surrendered before a local court which rejected his bail plea and sent him to jail. Dhami, an accused in a clash that took place between two groups in 2007, surrendered before the first class judicial magistrate at Didihat on Saturday, two days before the time given to him by the Nainital High Court. The court on Saturday rejected the Dhami's...  
01:33 AM, May 19, 2013

Bribery case: CBI officer remanded to probe agency's custody New Delhi: Senior CBI officer Vivek Dutt, who headed the Coalgate scam probe team, and three others were on Saturday sent to three days in the agency's custody by a Delhi court for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 15 lakh from a businessman to favour him in a land dispute case. Superintendent Dutt, CBI inspector Rajesh Chandra Karnatak, alleged middleman Rajesh Pachisia and businessman Dinesh Chand Gupta were produced...  
06:25 PM, May 18, 2013

Baz Luhrmann: I was an idiot to reject 'Harry Potter' London: 'The Great Gatsby' helmer Baz Luhrmann had turned down the opportunity to direct the 'Harry Potter' films in favour of shooting movie musical 'Moulin Rouge'. The 50-year-old filmmaker said he was contacted by producers of the wizarding franchise while they were planning the first big screen installment, 2001's 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', reported Contactmusic. "The first one came along and they rang me, and while I love...  
05:27 PM, May 18, 2013

Pak: Court extends Musharraf's remand by 14 days Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday extended by 14 days former President Pervez Musharraf's judicial remand over the detention of judges during the 2007 emergency. Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi of the anti-terrorism court also accepted a plea from Musharraf s lawyers that he should be exempted from appearing in the court on Saturday. 69-year-old Musharraf could not be produced in court for security reasons, officials said. The judge...  
02:59 PM, May 18, 2013

Wooden spoon at stake in Pune-Delhi tie Pune: Pune Warriors India host Delhi Daredevils on Sunday in a match which will decide who takes the last spot in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League. Both teams have a tournament to forget, each picking up just three wins in 15 matches and it's hard to say who is the favourite going into this match. Ideally, it has to be the team with fewer shortcomings. But looking...  
02:30 PM, May 18, 2013

France legalises gay marriage, says law is constitutional Paris: France's constitutional council has rejected a challenge by conservative lawmakers to the country's new gay marriage law, saying the law was constitutional. That means France could see its first gay marriages by the end of May. France's Parliament passed the law legalizing gay marriage in April after a wrenching national debate. Opponents led by the conservative UMP party immediately challenged the law in France's Constitutional Council, which rejected their...  
12:46 PM, May 18, 2013

World View: Pakistan elections 2013

Nawaz Sharif's PML-N bagged 125 of the 272 directly elected seats in Pakistan's National Assembly but fell short of a majority and is poised to form a government with support of independents and smaller parties. ...
11:47 AM, May 18, 2013

Odisha chit fund scam: Police intensifies crackdown
by IANS
Bhubaneswar: At least 177 people were arrested in different parts of Odisha during the past week for their involvement in illegal money circulation and chit fund activities, a police official said on Friday. The crackdown on the firms began May 10, 2013 and about 200 offices of 84 companies were raided, Rajesh Kumar, deputy inspector general (economic offence wing) of the crime branch police, told IANS. The arrested include two...  
05:45 AM, May 18, 2013

Rahul meets Congress leaders from Union Territories New Delhi: A meeting of Congress leaders from Union Territories convened by Rahul Gandhi on Friday saw strong pleas to make the Union Home Ministry pro-active to resolve the problems faced by the areas ahead of Lok Sabha polls. The leaders from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshdweep, Daman and Diu as also Chandigarh impressed upon the Congress Vice President that since the Home Ministry is administering...  
01:18 AM, May 18, 2013

Miscommunication with WB government removed: GJM Kolkata: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Friday said the recent visit of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Darjeeling has removed the "miscommunication" between the West Bengal government and the party. GJM leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri said, "There was a miscommunication with the the state...the problem is over now with her (Mamata) recent visit to the Darjeeling hills for development work for the people there." Blaming a section of the people...  
12:51 AM, May 18, 2013