[wanabidii] Top Headlines: I'm a soldier, I have no regrets, says ISIS Twitter handler Mehdi Biswas

Daily Newsletter | Friday, December 19, 2014 TOP HEADLINES MORE » I’m a soldier, I have no regrets, says ISIS Twitter handler Mehdi Biswas “I’m a soldier and messenger. I don’t regret what I’ve done,” Mehdi Masroor Biswas, 24, told an advocate as a posse of policemen escorted him out of court hall 49, Civil Court Complex, Bengaluru, on Thursday. Hang 3,000 terrorists in 48hrs: Pak army chief Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan, tweeted on Wednesday, “Asked PM Nawaz Sharif to hang all terrorists. More than 3,000 terrorists should be hanged in next 48 hours.” 48 hours after Peshawar, 26/11 butcher walks A day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan’s political leadership vowed to fight the last terrorist standing, a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court on Thursday granted bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the key handler in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, causing outrage in India. CITIES MORE » 7,000 taxis to stay off roads today in Kolkata All major taxi unions have called for a 24-hour strike on Friday. Citu leader Anadi Sahu claimed that at least 7,000 cabbies will participate in ‘Nabanna Abhiyan’, where they will assemble in front of Howrah station and march towards Nabanna. There might be chaos around the station if taxi drivers assemble there. Delhi HC says pavements are for pedestrians, not hawkers Footpaths are meant for pedestrians, not for providing livelihood to hawkers and setting up of shops or kiosks, the Delhi high court observed on Thursday while stating that rights of pedestrians must be “zealously protected.” Elections not before April? Kejri jibe at BJP sparks row With the election commission yet to notify a date for fresh polls in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal’s tweet on Thursday, questioning if the polls will be held in April, has stirred controversy. TECH MORE » First impressions: Micromax YU Yureka with Cyanogen OS We got a chance to spend some time with the phone at the launch event and here are our first impressions… TOI, cricbuzz in Google India's top 10 searches of 2014 Times Group brands 'cricbuzz' and 'Times of India' have made it to Google’s ten most searched topics in India in 2014. SPORTS MORE » India's progress in sports gives satisfaction: Sachin Tendulkar Sachin Tendulkar asserted that India has come up by leaps and bounds in sports recently, arousing a sense of satisfaction among top sportspersons of the country. Aim is to win 2015 Hockey India League title: Sandeep Singh Sandeep Singh vowed to score maximum number of goals in the upcoming Hockey India League to help his side Jaypee Punjab Warriors win the title. Sachin Tendulkar overwhelmed by Baidya achievements Disabled swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya, a double amputee below the knee who conquered the English Channel, on Thursday found an admirer in none other than Sachin Tendulkar. BUSINESS MORE » SpiceJet’s loss is other carriers’ gain SpiceJet’s fall from grace has led the cash registers ringing for other Indian carriers. Troubles at Kalanithi Maran-owned low cost carrier (LCC) started from mid-November when leasers started repossessing aircraft, leading to reduction of flights. Village broadband plan bound to fail, says Trai chief The government’s ambitious national broadband plan to connect as many as 2.5 lakh villages through optic fibre came in for sharp criticism from telecom regulator Rahul Khullar, who termed the move as “impossible” to implement and something that is bound to “fail”. JSPL gets notice on charter licence The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a notice to Naveen Jindal-owned Jindal Steel & Power’s (JSPL) six-year-old non-schedule operator permit (NSOP) holder firm (read aircraft charter firm), asking it why its permit or charter licence should not be cancelled by allowing it to lapse when it comes up for renewal next week. ENTERTAINMENT MORE » Why was Sobhita hiding her face? Why was Sobhita Dhulipalia hiding her face at dinner with Anil Kapoor’s son Harshvardhan Kapoor? Exclusive: Jacqueline romances Ranbir Exclusive pictures of the beautiful Jacqueline Fernandez romancing both Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal 7 Films we wish had a different ending We look at seven Bollywood films we wish had a different ending. Other Newsletters from TOI: Entertainment | Tech | Movie Reviews | Life & Style To manage your newsletter subscription settings, click here. Copyright 2014 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service