Tweets on Robert Vadra's claim that he's not averse to joining politics. 

Sagarika Ghose: Good political strategy by Rahul to field Vadra? Not sure! But looks like Bob has political ambition!

Shankara: Why is Robert Vadra exempted from security check on all Indian airports?

Karthik Srinivasan: Even without any political post Robert Vadra is exempt from security checks in Indian airports; imagine if was in active politics!!

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt reporting from UP says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today reacted to reports that husband Robert Vadra was considering joining politics. She said, "I know my husband. He is happy running his business. You must have asked the question in such a way, that had to react in that manner."

Hitting the campaign trail in this Gandhi family bastion, Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra today indicated that he was not averse to joining
politics. Arriving in Amethi along with his daughter last night, Vadra took part in a rally in Gauriganj this morning. When asked whether he would join politics during an informal chat with reporters, Vadra said, "I would definitely
contest if the people so desired." 

A simple question, and a response in the like.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has banned Alberto Contador for two years for doping, according to the Spanish Cycling Federation. He has been stripped of his 2010 Tour de France victory and, with his suspension running until 6 August this year, will miss the 2012 Tour. The Spaniard was found guilty of doping after testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour.

More on the bbc.

British cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, who played a crucial role in the 2010 controversial ''match fixing'' scandal, reportedly has fixed himself a cushy cleaner''s job in a jail in Britain.  

Majeed orchestrated the betting scam that involved Test match cheating by Pakistan's then captain Salman Butt and two fast bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir.  

According to The Sun, he gets 9.50 pounds a week for cleaning at the Ford open prison in West Sussex. He also gets his own cell with freeview TV.

In world news: Romania's Prime Minister Emil Boc has stepped down to "defuse political and social tension" after a series of protests against austerity measures.

More on the bbc.

Refuting Nair''s allegations that the Pratyush Sinha-led committee's report was one said and inaccurate, Radhakrishnan said: "Whatever we wanted to say on the subject, we have put on the website. There is a full report and recommendations of the second report, and there is a four-page statement. I don't want to add anything more. There is nothing personal in it."

Earlier, Minister of State in the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy had also severely criticised Nair, saying that he was misleading the nation when he said he was not heard by the investigation panel.

For decades, Katherine Baldwin has worried about her thinning hair. Learning about androgenetic alopecia has helped her come to terms with her hair loss and take control of her treatment.

Read more on the Daily Beast.

Painter Monet's exhibit reflects on what lurks beneath... and it's not just lilies.

Read the report on the Daily Beast.

News from Pakistan...

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, talking to the media before heading for Qatar today, said that Pakistan will always remain relevant in determining the future of Afghanistan.

Gilani headed to Qatar to discuss Afghan peace efforts in the ultra-rich Gulf state where the Taliban and US officials have begun preliminary contacts.

Update: Two women were arrested today in connection with the Baby Falak abandonment case. Delhi Police arrested Kanta and Lakshmi and also questioned Falak's mother Munni, who was traced down in Rajasthan''s Jhunjunu District.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chaya Sharma said: "We were able to track down the mother of Falak from a village in Jhunjunu district in Rajasthan. We had formed five teams to trace down the family of Falak. Lakshmi was identified earlier. It was important for us to trace down the original biological parents."

For more on the Falak story, see our 13:48 pm post.

The Tibetan government in exile has said that continuing incidents of self immolation by Tibetans in China were due to the "repressive policies" of the Communist nation which continues to occupy Tibet.

Expressing concern over recent reports of self immolation by three more Tibetan people in China's Sichuan province, it said here today that the measures to restrict movement of Tibetans in the capital Lhasa can further aggravate the tense situation in Tibet.

Here's the name of the oncologist treating Yuvraj: Dr Nitish Rohatgi, from Max Hospitals.

Women have been at the forefront of the uprisings that started in Tunisia and soon cascaded west to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and across the Gulf. Over the past year, Arab women have relished the promise of a change -- and found a new sense of equality long suppressed under sclerotic patriarchal regimes.

That's the story on cnn.com

The doctor says that Yuvraj has, a type of cancer called, seminoma, which is treatable and curable by therapy.

Here's what Wiki says on seminoma. Read

Update on the Yuvraj Singh's cancer battle.

The oncologist treating him says the Yuvraj is undergoing chemotherapy and the cancer is unlikely to damage his career. He says that Yuvjraj can restart training after 10 weeks and his form of cancer is treatable. He also rules out rumours that Yuvraj is suffering from lung cancer.

The Congress party of Nehru and Indira Gandhi is accused of sacrificing free speech to make a comeback in India's most populous state. Read the report on the Guardian.co.uk.

The Gujarat High Court today disposed off petition seeking re-investigations in the murder of former Gujarat minister Haren Pandya, on the ground that an
appeal in this regard was pending with the apex court. 

Justice Ananat S Dave disposed off the petition that was filed by Pandya's wife Jagruti after the CBI and the state government filed their respective replies, as directed by the court last month.

Just two glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day can treble the risk of mouth cancer, warns a report.

Read more on the Daily Mail.

A Reuters report says that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan will travel to Qatar today for talks on the Taliban's plans to set up a representative office in the Gulf state, Pakistani officials said. Taliban leaders said last month the insurgent movement plans to set up an office in Qatar, a US ally, as part of a fragile peace process.

Read

If you can stomach this photograph, click here.

Five hirsute British lager fans went through ultimate pain barrier to have the Foster's logo waxed into their hairy backs. The Australian beer brand has been recruiting the 'backvertisers' as they launch a new TV advert focusing on body hair.

That's the report on the Daily Mail.

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt, who will be getting us regular updates and analyses on the UP polls writes in to say that Priyanka Gandhi who is campaigning at Alampur village in Amethi, today, faced a hostile audience who chanted, Mulayam Singh zindabad, Priyanka Gandhi murdabad.

A local advocate, Rama Singh said that Congress candidate, Amita Singh, wife of former MP Sanjay Singh has not been working for the people and that she had diverted people's money to her family-run education institutions.

Sharada Dwivedi, the Mumbai-based historian and researcher, has passed away. She has authored several books on the history and culture of Mumbai and is also on the panel on the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee.

Among her most famous works is Bombay, the Cities Within (1995).

Yuvraj Singh's father Yograj Singh today lamented that his son's treatment was delayed a bit and that the dashing left-hander had not taken seriously his advice to get himself checked up two years back. "I don't want to blame anyone. But I feel that things could have been different today.

If you recall, two years when Yuvi was playing in a T20 match at Mohali and played match-winning innings, in which after hitting a six he came running towards Suresh Raina and could be seen coughing badly," Yograj recalled how the early signs of his son's illness were not picked up seriously. 

Struggling to hold back his tears, the former Test cricketer said he had then advised Yuvraj to get a thorough medical check up done, but he had brushed it aside saying he was not a kid and that he was alright.

Update on the Pak building crash. Two persons have been confirmed killed and 50 to 60 thers feared trapped in rubble after a factory in a residential area of Lahore collapsed following a boiler explosion today.

See our 12:05 pm report

The Wall Street Journal last week serialised an investigation into the death of Sister Valsa John Malamel.

It is a tale of greed, lust, friendship, betrayal, faith, and brutality set against the conflict between two major forces shaping India's future: Industrialization and the preservation of traditional ways of life. This account is based on dozens of interviews, witness statements, court documents, and police files.

Read the complete story

The Indian Cricket Board today said it would issue regular health updates of World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh, who is being treated for lung cancer in the
United States, and pleaded with the media to respect the ailing player's privacy.

"Yuvraj Singh is presently undergoing treatment for his medical condition. The BCCI wishes him a speedy recovery," BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement. 

"The BCCI is in touch with Yuvraj's family members. They have been inundated with calls from the media over the past few days. His family values the affection and concern the media has for Yuvraj. "The Board would like to appeal to the media to respect the privacy of Yuvraj and his family members, at this critical juncture," he added.

While on Yuvraj, this is what the Hindu says: The good news about cancer...

Read

Update on the story that has traumatised India.

The battered two-year-old Falak, who has been fighting for life at the AIIMS here, has shown no signs of improvement and is back on the ventilator. "She is not breathing properly. That is why we had to put her back on the ventilator on February 4 night. The infection in her body and improper fluid movement are not allowing us to keep her off the ventilator. She is critical, but stable," Dr Deepak Agarwal, neurosurgeon with the hospital, said. 

Falak was brought to the AIIMS Trauma Centre on January 18 with a severe head injury, both her arms broken, bite marks all over her body and her cheeks branded with hot iron. Doctors have already conducted three life saving surgeries on her from the day of her admission here.

Update on the Google, Facebook court verdict. The Delhi court has asked these, and 20 other social networking websites to file written statements in 15 days. The next hearing will be held on March 1.

For more on that see our 12:15 pm post.

Did Prince Charles and Prince Williams' heart sink at this news? It is 60 years to the day since she learned her beloved father, George VI, had died suddenly.

In a heartbeat the strong, dutiful but still unbelievably young woman of 25 was thrust on to the world stage. Now aged 85, the Queen is a proud  grandmother eight times over, with one great-grandchild and another on the way.

More

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will be moved shortly to a prison hospital for the first time since his arrest in April 2011.  

Egyptian officials said the hospital in Tora Prison in Cairo would be upgraded in 'record time,' but that there is no set date for the move.   Mubarak was held in custody first at a hospital in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh and later at a military hospital outside Cairo.

News flash: Robert Vadra (better known as Priyanka Gandhi's husband) says he will enter politics if people want him to, but right now it's Rahul time to be in active politics.

Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt who is covering the UP elections for us says Priyanka was today asked to comment on Yuvraj Singh's battle with cancer. Taken aback, Priyanka asked, "What does Yuvraj have to do with UP elections? But I wish him well and hope he recovers fast and can work for the nation."

Priyanka is currently visiting villages in Amethi addressing nukkad sabhas.

In other news: The Supreme Court today sought the Centre's response on a PIL seeking inquiry into alleged illegal clinical trials of untested drugs in various states of the country. 

A bench of justices R M Lodha and H L Gokhale issued notice to the Centre, Health Ministry and Medical Council of India seeking their replies on the petition. 

The court passed the order on a PIL filed by Indore-based NGO Swasthya Adhikar Manch which sought appointment of an expert committee to regulate the clinical trials done by many multinational pharmaceutical companies. 

The petitioner-NGO pointed out various cases of illegal drug trials going on in the country and said that such trials must be stopped immediately and requested the apex court's intervention in the matter.

Read the background here.

New operator Uninor, a joint venture between Telenor of Norway and Unitech, today said the company will participate in 2G spectrum auction but did not
rule out exit option from the Indian market.

"In principle we will go for auction but I am not saying that whether we will win everything ... So, the option of exit cannot be ruled out," Uninor Managing Director and Telenor's Asia head Sigve Brekke told reporters here. He also said that company would finalise its strategy after looking at the base price and the reserve price for the spectrum.

Kanchan Gupta on Twitter: Why should he be scared at age 41? I've learned from my grandmother, I'm not scared of anyone: Rahul.'

In other news: Fidel Castro has made a rare public appearance to launch his memoirs. The increasingly reclusive former Cuban president spent six hours presenting the two-volume book to an audience in Havana.

Read the report on the Guardian.

Update on the case against Google, Facebook.

The court will further hear the matter at 12:30 pm today, and has also asked Google Inc why it was not coming up "properly" with a reply and brushed aside its contention that it had received the copy of the judgement and other documents related to case only on last Friday.

"Why are you (Google Inc) not coming properly with your reply?" the court said. "Don't tell me you have been served only on Friday. After all this hullabaloo that has been created in the last few months you should have been prepared," it stated.

The court also asked the petitioner to supply the copies of all the documents relied upon, to all the opposite parties. 

The court had on December 20 last year, in a ex-parte order issued summons to 22 social networking websites asking them to remove "anti-religious" or "anti-social" content in the form of photographs, videos or text which might hurt religious sentiments.  It had on December 24 set February 6 as deadline.

Facebook India today filed its compliance report before the Delhi court which had ordered it and 21 other websites to remove objectionable content from
their websites. Google India also told the court that it has removed certain web pages from the Internet on which objections were raised by the petitioners.

Rahul Gandhi in Varanasi: If Priyanka is seasonal, so am I. I am her brother.

This refers to the attacks from BJP and BSP leaders who called her and her brother "seasonal frogs", seen only during the polls.

She maintained that it can apply to her, but not to her brother. "I come here for polls. That is known. There is nothing to hide in this. Rahul and Soniaji come here often. When I used to look after the constituency on Soniaji's behalf, I used to visit often," she said.

Back to Rahul Gandhi: As a human being I respect and I'm very fond of Mayawati. My problem is that she has forgotten how to fill up the wounds of the people.

The Cong general secretary is addressing a rally in Varanasi today.

Just so you know: Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, is in Washington to discuss a host of bilateral and regional issues including Iranian sanctions and Af-Pak situation, with top US officials, is also expected to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week. 

A meeting with Clinton, which was not initially on the cards, has been added at the last minute, and signifies the importance being attached to India-US relationship by the Obama Administration, top Indian diplomatic sources said.

Rahul Gandhi says the people of UP have been fooled for the last 22 years. He says he won't leave UP even after the elections are over.

He says though the UP polls are no longer just an election, but in fact, a mission, and he is not interested in what happens, he is convinced the party will win.

Amid a raging controversy over exploitation of Jarawa tribes, government is exploring the possibility of having alternate connectivity with the Great
Nicobar island through sea and aerial route, if the Andaman Truck Route (ATR) - which connects the island to Port Blair  is closed down. 

ATR, which is also known as the National Highway 223, covers a distance of 300 kms and passes through the protected forest zone inhabited by Jarawa tribals.

"The problem inside is the ATR which joins Port Blair with the Greater Nicobar, it passes through that area. If ATR is closed, then the alternate routes will be the sea and aerial route," Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo
said.

"Helicopter service is not very practical for a large number of people who reside over there...Of course the sea route is there, but how feasible it is, whether it is an all weather route is something which needs to be looked into," he said.

 "We still can have helicopter services as a kind of communication facility.But I don't think it can totally be managed with the helicopter services only.  Movement of food supplies, sick people who need help and medical attention
cannot be done through the aerial route only," he said. 

Considered as the life-line of the Great Nicobar island, the ATR is used to run convoys of food and other essential supplies to Nicobar.

Facebook India has filed a compliance report following a Delhi court's order to remove objectionable content from its website. Google India tells Delhi court it has removed certain pages. Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft tell court there is no cause of action against them.

This comes after the court set a deadline for 22 social networking websites including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to remove all "anti-religious" or "anti-social" content on December 24. The Delhi court directed the companies to file compliance reports by February 6.

Out of 22, the representatives of two websites, Yahoo India Pvt Ltd and Microsoft, appeared in court and submitted that they have not got the copies of court order and complaint against them and pleaded the judge to provide the same.

British PM David Cameron was under intense pressure last night to slash the Pound 1billion in aid Britain gives to India after the country said it no longer wanted the money.

India's finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said the booming country should 'voluntarily' give up the 280million a year it receives from Britain. He told the Indian parliament: "We do not require the aid. It is a peanut in our total development spending."

Read more

On the bbc.co.uk: A book by a former mistress of President John F Kennedy has revealed new details of their relationship. Extracts in the US media of Once Upon A Secret by Mimi Alford recount the affair she had with the president whilst an intern at the White House.

More

As the news of cricket icon Yuvraj Singh being diagnosed with cancer spread, several Bollywood personalities took to twitter to pray for his recovery.
Yuvraj has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States. The 30-year-old left-hander has been in the US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a non-malignant tumour in the lungs.

Amitabh Bachchan: "Shocked to learn of Yuvraj Singh down with cancer...Yuvraj if you read this, know that we all pray for you...All shall and will  be well. Yuvraj, get up in the morning and say it out loud - "Everyday in every way I am getting better and better !!" You will."

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli: Yuvraj has done so much for Indian cricket. This world cup might not have happened without him. Let's pray for his recovery. Get well Yuvi." . 

Actress Dia Mirza: "Very upset to hear about Yuvraj! Let's pray for his
recovery. I know he's a fighter and he'll win this match."

To a reply on Yuvraj Singh's tweet, Abhishek Bachchan tweeted: Get well soon. Big hug.

In other news: Mick Jagger's second eldest daughter, jewellery designer Jade, has reportedly told her friends that she is getting married, for the first time, to the handsome music festival promoter and DJ Adrian Fillary.  

Fillary proposed to the 40-year-old in India last month. And in a decidedly old-fashioned romantic gesture, which may bode well for this union, he even phoned her father beforehand to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage.  

Jade, whose mother is the human rights activist Bianca Jagger, had two long-term loves before she met Fillary, who is also 40 years of age.  

She has daughters Assisi, 20, and Amba, 17, from her relationship with artist Piers Jackson.

Update on the upcoming Goa polls next month: BJP has announced a list of 22
candidates for the forthcoming Goa polls.

The list, which was announced last night, includes names of its prominent leaders, except its Member of Parliament Sripad Naik, who has refused to contest. Party's central election committee, which met in Delhi last night, with the party national president Nitin Gadkari as its head, finalised the list. 

Ananth Kumar, party's national general secretary said that the meeting was attended by parliamentary committee chairman L K Advani, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and all other members of central election committee.

More on our coverage of the UP polls...

In the towns and cities of Uttar Pradesh, you would not know there is an election on. The contest for this politically key state is bereft of the proverbial hot button -- an issue that can grab people's attention across the state.

Read Sheela Bhatt's report

On rediff.com: Phase two of the Uttar Pradesh elections will see a whopping 118 candidates with a criminal background. The details released by the Association for Democratic Reforms reveals that out of the 337 candidates analysed for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections, 118 candidates have declared criminal cases against them.

Vicky Nanjappa reports.

A strong 6.8 earthquake hit the central Philippines today but there was no danger of a widespread tsunami, seismologists said. The quake hit 70 km north of the city of Dumaguete on Negros Island at 11:49 am (local time) at a depth
of 46 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said. 

The Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology measured it as 6.9 at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres centred in the sea off the city of La Carlota.

Sports minister Ajay Maken has promised government help to cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in theUnited States to recover from lung cancer. "Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government should and will help him," Maken tweeted.

The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs by his family. His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary has, however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May.

The Bharatiya Janata party has announced a list of 22 candidates for the forthcoming Goa polls. The list, which was announced last night, includes
names of its prominent leaders, except its Member of Parliament Sripad Naik, who has refused to contest. Party's central election committee, which met in Delhi last night, with the party national president Nitin Gadkari as its head, finalised the list. 

Ananth Kumar, the party's national general secretary said that the meeting was attended by parliamentary committee chairman L K Advani, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and all other members of central election committee.