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With temperatures more than 10 degrees over the normal for this time of the year, the season has turned out to be the hottest winter in Kashmir in 70 years. Bright sun rays have replaced snowy conditions in the valley. Thursday recorded the hottest day in February in 76 years with mercury rising to 20 degrees Celsius. "Earlier we used to get a lot of rains and snow. This time it has been extremely low, the rainfall has been below normal," said Sonam Lotus, Director Meteorological department, Kashmir. He added during the month of February temperature remained 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Sprouting of plants and blooming of flowers have advanced by a month due to hot weather conditions heralding an early arrival of spring. But the early bloom is not good news for farmers and horticulturists. "For the first time, I have seen flowers blooming on almond trees in February; it was supposed to be after 15th March, 2016. I am 48-years-old and am not aware what will be its i

Three persons, including a couple, were killed when their car they were travelling in rammed into a stationary truck near Neuria area, police said here today. Rakesh Chandra Gupta (45), his wife Anita (42) and daughter Twinkle (12) were going to Uttarakhand, along with their driver Ajay Pal (28), when the mishap happened last night, police said. While Rakesh, Anita and Ajay died on the spot, Twinkle was rushed to the hospital, where her condition is said to be critical, police said. Source: IT

23 Naxals which include two women surrendered today in Bastar district in Chhattisgarh. They said they were surrendering because their senior cadres were treating them in a very shoddy manner. These Naxals laid down their arms before senior police officials, and said that they were "frustrated" with the ill-treatment meted out to them, according to Bastar Superintendent of Police RN Dash. Of them, three cadres - Katku (Kudur Janatana Sarkar head), Lali Mandavi and Raju Mandavi (area committee members), were carrying a reward of Rs three lakh each on their heads. Similarly, Kawasi Gore (35) who was the head of Chetna Natya Mandli (CNM) -- a cultural outfit of Maoists -- was carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, the SP said, adding the rest of the surrendered ultras were lower-rung members. An encouragement amount of Rs 10,000 was given to each of them and will be given facilities under the surrender and rehabilitation policy, the official said. Source: IT

Alleging that a "mining mafia" in Punjab was extorting money from owners of stone crushing units, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday vowed to put an end to the menace "within 24 hours" if his party comes to power in the 2017 Assembly election. "I am shocked to know that legal crusher owners have to pay 'goonda tax or jizya' to the mining mafia in Punjab. I vow that within 24 hours of AAP's coming into power, this will be curbed in the state," Kejriwal, who is on a five-day tour of Punjab to reach out to voters ahead of the Assembly elections, said at a rally here. Members of the business community, incuding owners of crushing units, on Sunday met Kejriwal and alleged that no action was being taken against the extortionists. They also claimed that false cases were being registered against them. Kejriwal said once voted to power, AAP would set up a commission to review such cases and take action against officials who had lodged

A cameraman working with a news channel today died of heart attack while covering the incident gruesome murders of 14 members of a family in Thane, police said. The cameraman, identified as Ratan Radheshyam Bhowmik, went to Thane Civil Hospital in the morning to cover the incident. At the hospital, he complained of chest pain following which he collapsed and died of stroke, police said. He had undergone angioplasty about a year back, they said. Police are trying to find out whether he had visited the scene of crime in Kasarvadawali area here. In the incident of familicide, a 35-year-old man today allegedly killed 14 of his family members, including his parents, wife and children by slitting their throats and then committed suicide in the district. Source: IT

Opposition monitoring groups say warplanes have carried out air raids on two villages in northern Syria. Sunday's air raids came on the second day of a cease-fire brokered by Russia and the U.S., the most ambitious effort yet to curb the violence of the country's five-year civil war. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrikes hit the villages of Daret Azzeh and Qobtan al-Jabal. The group did not say whether the warplanes were Russian or Syrian. The Local Coordination Committees said the warplanes were Russian. It was not immediately clear if the warplanes struck areas controlled by Al Qaeda's branch in Syria, known as the Nusra Front. Both the Nusra Front and the Islamic State group are excluded from the truce. Source: Fox

© Bassam Khabieh / Reuters Russian monitors of the ceasefire in Syria have recorded nine violations of the truce over the last 24 hours. They said overall the ceasefire is holding up, but some of the violations were attributed to the rebels. Pledges to observe the ceasefire have been submitted by 17 “moderate” rebel groups and elders of 35 towns and villages, who said that they would expel anyone not willing to uphold the deal and enlist those willing to do it into local militias, the Russian center for reconciliation said. The US has filed a list of 69 rebel groups who have subscribed to the ceasefire, they said. Six of the nine violations were noted because the fire came from the regions of suburban Damascus under the control of “moderate” rebel groups listed as observing the ceasefire by the American side, the report said. In the Raqqa province, a group of some 100 fighters crossed into Syria from Turkey. The group later joined forces with other militants and attacked the Kur

Posters of Swiss People's Party (SVP) demanding to deport criminal foreigners are displayed beside a road in Adliswil, Switzerland February 11, 2016. © Arnd Wiegmann / Reuters Voters in Switzerland go to the polls for a referendum that could make it easier to automatically deport foreigners who commit minor crimes. The “Yes” and “No” campaigns have been emotional and divisive. The vote, proposed by right-wing anti-immigrant People's Party (SVP), means approval of a plan for handing foreign nationals who commit minor crimes in Switzerland. Any foreign national found guilty of two lesser offenses, such as traffic violations, fighting, money laundering, giving false testimony or indecent exposure, within a time span of 10 years, should be expelled. As of mid-Sunday, the voters were seen as likely to reject the “Yes” vote, according to initial exit poll data by Swiss Radio and Television (SRF), Reuters reports. A 2010 deportation initiative, also launched by SVP and ap

First company-sized contingent of about 150 U.S. paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrive in the airport in Riga. © Ints Kalnins / Reuters Eastern European counties have asked NATO to deploy extra troops that could start fighting against Russia without formal approval from HQ, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said in an interview to the Washington Post. Latvia and its immediate neighbors would like to see “a very blunt and strong statement” from NATO that would assure Baltic countries that the military alliance would offer its protection “as long as necessary, while we have such a neighbor,” Rinkevics said during a visit to Washington on Friday. Rinkevics called for more NATO troops on the ground – currently the country hosts about 100 on a rotational basis. He added that heavy weaponry such as tanks should be placed in Baltic countries in advance as well. The reason for the militarization of Latvia, Rinkevics argues, is a “real ne

The Russian ceasefire monitoring center near Latakia says it is verifying reports of an attack on the Kurdish town Tell Abyad in northern Syria carried out by militants coming from Turkey. The reports came overnight and claim that the forces coming from Turkey are using heavy artillery, according to Lt. Gen. Sergey Kuralenko, who heads the center for Syrian reconciliation. “This information was verified though multiple channels, including representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), [a rebel alliance that includes Kurds, Arabs and other ethnic groups and operates in the region],” he said. Russia has requested clarification from the US-run counterpart of the center based in Amman, citing its influence on Turkey, a member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State terrorist group, the general said. Leading world powers have brokered a shaky ceasefire in some parts of Syria, which is expected to be observed by all parties expect hardcore Islamist fighters of IS and

It's not just the red carpet or the fancy bling that helms you to switch on your television sets to tune into Oscars every year. While some of you may be curious to know the final list of awardees, others would just wait for the words that echo after they receive their awards. Every year, there are some speeches, some quotes that not only move you but inspire you to become a better person and be good at what you're doing. If not all, some of you might have really practiced your share of speeches in the childhood. Even if you aren't winning an Oscar in the near future, we bring you some of the most memorable quotes from Oscars ceremony that are sure to inspire the movie buff within you. Best supporting actress Lupita Nyong'o for '12 Years a Slave' Best actress Meryl Streep for 'The Iron Lady', 2012 Best Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette for 'Boyhood', 2015 Best Actor Roberto Begnini for 'Life is Beautiful', 1998 B

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that to secure a lasting Cyprus settlement, the security concerns of both sides would have to be taken into account but stressed that for Turkish Cypriots, Ankara’s role would be critical. In an interview with Phileleftheros on Sunday, Cavusoglu said the issues of security and guarantees would be discussed at the end of the Cyprus negotiations in a five-party conference. He said he had not yet discussed such a move with his Greek counterpart, however. “I do not want to suggest that Turkey will be very flexible on the issue of guarantees,” the Turkish foreign minister said. This would be discussed further with the Turkish Cypriots “whose security is critical for Turkey”, he added. According to Phileleftheros, Cavusoglu avoided getting into discussion on any sort of formulas on guarantees, saying it was premature. “Security and guarantees do concern us since Turkey is a guarantor power,” he

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy escaped unhurt when his car met with an accident in the early hours of the day. Chandy was on his way to his home town Puthuppally in the district after attending the function of President Pranab Mukherjee at Kozhikode, when his car skidded and fell in a small drain. While the CM is unhurt, his gunman, who was sitting in the front, suffered minor injuries. The accident occurred at about 2:45 AM at Kanakari in Vaikom-Ettumanoor road. The exact reason as to how the accident occurred is not clear yet. One version is that the tyre of the car got punctured that led to the car skidding into the drain. Another version is that driver dozed off. The Chief Minister continued his journey in the pilot vehicle to his hometown. He said that he escaped unhurt as he was wearing a seat belt. Chandy as usual went to the Church in his village in the morning and offered prayers. Chandy, who visits his constituency on Sundays if there is no other important engageme

The Aam Aadmi Party minister Kapil Mishra in his tweet today said that three water plants have been shut down in Delhi due to increased level of ammonia.He also claimed to be verifying evidences at the moment and might release a factual report by today evening. Amonia again very high in Yamuna. 3 plants shut down. Water supply affected in north and central Delhi. Mishra's tweet reflects on the water crisis that has pushed the national capital in a quagmire. After the Jat row that stalled all the water supply to Delhi, it is now the high content of Ammonia that has aggravated the water woes. The Delhi Jal board has recently shut Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants on grounds of sudden rise in the level of ammonia in Yamuna. This may aggravate the crisis in several north and old Delhi areas, including prominent government hospitals like GB Pant Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Maulana Azad Medicial College and Hindu Rao Hospital may be affected. "Due to the

Photo shows Christopher Brian Colbert (Dallas PD) Dallas police are searching for a man who they say sold a house for more than $100,000 by posing as the home’s dead owner. Christopher Brian Colbert, 43, is suspected of posing as Ronald Shumway, 57, police said Thursday. Shumway’s remains were found on his property in September and police said he hadn’t been seen since April, according to theDallas Morning News. The owner of a home on North Winnekta Ave. that Colbert sold posing as Shumway found Shumway’s remains in a plastic bag covered by cement in the yard. Witnesses were able to identify the remains of Shumway, the Morning News reported. An arrest warrant for Colbert was issued on Monday and as of early Sunday he was still at large. Colbert is charged with securing execution of a document by deception and tampering with government record – both felonies. He has not been charged in Shumway’s death, according to WFAA. “It’s a horrible situation,” Mark Shumway, Ronald’s half-brot

In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, a cooler with purchased pythons arrive at All American Gator Products in Hollywood, Fla.. (AP) The 106 Burmese pythons captured over a monthlong hunt won't help control Florida's invasive snake population, but wildlife officials said Saturday that doesn't matter as much as the awareness they bring to the state's environmental concerns. Thousands of pythons, far from their natural habitat in Southeast Asia, are believed to be stalking Florida wildlife in the beleaguered Everglades. The tan, splotchy snakes can be elusive in the wetlands, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say volunteer python removal programs and two state-sanctioned hunts since 2009 are focusing more eyes to the problem. "Whether they're fishermen or they're hunters or they're hikers or they're birdwatchers — they're all looking for the python," said wildlife commissioner Ron Bergeron. "The s

© Health Canada / Reuters France has confirmed its first European case of the Zika virus transmitted through sexual contact. Marisol Touraine, minister for social affairs and health, revealed that the case was recorded in a woman in Paris. The minister told the AFP that the woman had been infected by her partner who had recently returned from Brazil, an active Zika zone. Two cases of the deadly Zika virus being contracted through sexual contact have also been confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said on Friday that laboratory tests had confirmed separate cases in two women who had recently been in contact with an infected male. It follows the health department’s earlier announcement that it was investigating 14 new cases of the disease’s possible sexual transmission. In an update, the CDC describes four further sexually transmitted Zika cases as “probable,” with two suspected cases being disproven. Six more patients remain under observati

It was Darryl Fornatora's Christmas present to himself -- a seven-day vacation in the Dominican Republican surfing the waters off the picturesque Caribbean island. But the 46-year-old Fornatora, of Palm Beach, Fla., never made his flight home -- and nearly a month after his Jan. 27 disappearance, his family and authorities have no information on his whereabouts. Fornatora, a tennis instructor whose obsession is surfing, landed in Puerto Plata on Jan. 25 with a friend and fellow surfing enthusiast, according to his family. Fornatora text-messaged friends and family on the day of his arrival and checked into a villa in the coastal town of Caberete with his travel partner, Matt Rigby. On Jan. 26, after five hours riding the surf, an exhausted Fornatora messaged his mother, Nancy -- who always worried about surfing accidents -- to let her know he had left the water. "He said he was out of the water," Fornatora's sister, Christina Hendrex, told FoxNews.com. "They

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. © Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters Ramzan Kadyrov, whose tenure as the President of the Chechen Republic expires in April, said he would step down from his office and end his political career. Earlier, Kadyrov leaked an opposition report that called him a threat to Russia's security. “My time is past. Every human has a limit. I believe Kadyrov has passed his peak,” the Chechen leader said, referring to himself in the third person, in an interview on Saturday. Kadyrov has been the president of Chechnya, a southern Russian republic with a turbulent and violent history, since 2007. Before that he served for two years as republic's prime minister and held several other significant posts related to security and governance before that. Speaking to NTV television, Kadyrov refused to speculate who could become president of Chechnya after him, saying his team had plenty of strong candidates. He said would not seek a position in the Russian federal gove

Another explosion has rocked a coal mine in Vorkuta, Russia, killing five people and injuring one , according to the emergency services. The blast occurred during efforts to rescue workers trapped when same mine collapsed earlier this week. Five coal mine rescuers were killed in a new blast, emergency services spokesman told Interfax on Sunday. A source in the emergency services told RIA Novosti earlier that six people had been killed and five injured. There is a high risk of a “secondary explosion” at the mine, Russia’s emergency services said, as citied by TASS. RT’s Roman Kosarev said that 26 miners were still missing from the first collapse on Thursday, citing emergency services. All of the rescue workers have been evacuated from the mine due to the explosion, emergency services added. Authorities had been warning that the second blast was possible. Four people have been killed in the Severnaya coal mine, as a blast caused the mine to collapse on Thursday. Rescue operations h

Feb. 2, 2016: Yoko Ono poses for photographers in front of a work entitled "Morning Beams/River Bed," at a press event to mark the opening of her exhibiition "Land of Hope" at the Museum of Memory and Tolerance in Mexico City. (AP) Yoko Ono's representative says the 83-year-old artist-singer has been released from a New York City hospital after being treated for the flu. Elliott Mintz spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday. He said earlier that Ono went to the hospital Friday night on the advice of her doctor after having flu-like symptoms. Sean Ono Lennon said on Twitter Saturday that his mother was "running about as usual" after getting home. He says he may now go get a flu shot. Yoko Ono is the widow of John Lennon of the Beatles. She was treated at Mount Sinai West Hospital in Manhattan. Source: FoxNews

Gangsters are getting innovative in Bihar these days. Some gangsters are even making the most of the latest advancements in the digital era. In a bid to instil fear into their victim, an extortionists' gang operating in Darbhanga, north Bihar, recently sent a selfie of their kingpin and other members, brandishing sophisticated weapons such as carbines, pistols and bombs, to a school teacher through WhatsApp to demand ransom. The matter came to light when Shyam Kumar Rai, a resident of Navtolia village, received a message and a phone call from notorious gangster Naveen Singh asking him to pay `5 lakh immediately. In order to prove that he was not making any empty threats, Naveen forwarded a few selfies of himself and his gangster boss Raju Dhakal carrying a pistol, bomb and even a carbine in their hands. Shyam panicked and rushed to the police station to register a complaint in this regard. The Darbhanga police subsequently set up a special team, headed by subdivisional police