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Thu, 14 November 2013
Live! Sheila Dikshit has assets worth Rs 2.7 crore

Timeline  Refresh

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23:37   'There is a great lack of transparency in what happens within the media'
A Conversation With: Former Political Editor of Open Magazine Hartosh Singh Ba.

Read it here
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23:20   Sheila Dikshit has assets worth Rs 2.7 crore
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has declared assets whose value has more than doubled during the past five years, reaching around Rs 2.7 crore.

Harsh Vardhan, Chief Ministerial candidate of BJP, along with his wife, has declared assets worth around Rs 2.66 crore including movable and immovable properties.

Dikshit, who filed her nomination today from New Delhi assembly constituency, has come out with movable assets worth Rs 1.8 crore including cash, bank deposits and investments in mutual bonds and shares.

Dikshit's owns an apartment in Nizamuddin East worth around 98 lakh but does not own any vehicle.

In her income tax return for 2012-13, she has shown a total income of around 13 lakh.
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22:03   Egypt to resume Brotherhood trials on December 11
The trial of the Muslim Brotherhood chief and his deputies on charges related to protest deaths will resume on December 11, judicial sources said today, after the previous judges withdrew. 

The three judges who had presided over the trial of Mohamed Badie and 34 co-defendants, including his two deputies, recused themselves on October 29 for what they said were "reasons of conscience".
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21:59   Russia's Putin gets honorary taekwondo black belt
The World Taekwondo Federation has awarded an honorary black belt to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Putin received the certificate and a taekwondo uniform at a ceremony in Seoul before wrapping up his visit to South Korea yesterday.
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21:29   Iaq bombers kill 43 as millions mark Shiite holiday
Attacks mostly against Shiites, including a suicide bombing that ripped through a religious procession, killed 43 people in Iraq today despite massive security deployed for one of the holiest days of their faith. 

The bloodshed came as a flood of worshippers, including tens of thousands of foreign pilgrims, thronged the central shrine city of Karbala for the climax of Ashura, braving the repeated attacks by Sunni militants that have marred the festival in previous years.
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21:27   Saudi police out in force after migrant dies in riots
Saudi police today deployed in force in a poor neighbourhood of Riyadh after rioting by illegal migrants the previous night left one person dead. 

And in the commercial capital Jeddah, security forces dispersed a large protest by illegal migrants and arrested five Ethiopians suspected of organising the demonstration, a police spokesman said.
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21:27   China increases aid to Philippines after drawing fire
Stung by criticism that it was playing politics with disaster, the Chinese government said it was contributing money and aid worth $1.64 million to typhoon victims in the Philippines.

Beijing has come under fire at home and abroad for initially providing $100,000 in aid, seen as a reflection of a continuing territorial spat between the two countries over islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
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20:34   First smartphone on new OS 'Sailfish' to be launched on Nov 27
The first smartphone on new operating system Sailfish, which has been developed by a group of former Nokia employees, will be launched on November 27 by Jolla in partnership with Finnish telecom operator DNA. 

"Being a Finnish operator, it has been very important to DNA to be able to support a Finnish success story, one in which we see great potential. People have been eagerly awaiting Jolla phones and their long wait will finally be rewarded in Helsinki on the 27th," DNA's Business Director Cedric Kamtsan said in a statement.
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20:06   US media likens Tendulkar's retirement to Mahatma Gandhi's death
An op-ed in the New York Times likened Sachin Tendulkar's retirement from cricket to the death of Mahatma Gandhi.

"As the moment of his (Tendulkar's) departure looms, the country is in the fevered throes of one last, mammoth celebration, but also on the un-self-conscious brink of mourning," the NYT op-ed piece titled 'Where the Gods Live On ... and On' said.

The NYT op-ed said it would be "entirely accurate" to describe Tendulkar as the most revered contemporary Indian, "or even, with only a pinch of hyperbole, the most revered Indian since Mahatma Gandhi held the nation in thrall. Suspend your disbelief and think of him as a cross between Babe Ruth and Martin Luther King."

It said Tendulkar has built his reputation not just on "supreme batsmanship" but also on his "unwavering modesty, impeccable manners and an evident pleasure in being part of (and never greater than) the team on which he played."
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19:29   Sachin is a great ambassador of India, says Pranab
President Pranab Mukherjee today joined millions of cricket fans to hail the achievements of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who is playing his last Test match, and expressed hope that the legendary cricketer will continue to serve the game as well as the nation.

Talking to reporters after the prize distribution function at Rashtrapati Bhavan League T-10 cricket tournament, Mukherjee said "today is a special day...I join millions of adoring fans in hailing the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar as he plays his last international match in Mumbai beginning today."

Terming Tendulkar as "a great Ambassador of the game and of India" Mukherjee said he is a true icon who has inspired youth across the country by not only his stupendous records but by his conduct on and off the field.
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19:27   Make India a permanent member if UNSC: British PM
United Nations ought to include India as a permanent member of the Security Council, said British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is in the country on a one-day visit. 
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19:12   Bhansali buckles, replaces 'provocative' words in 'Ram-Leela'
Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali today agreed to the demands of Kshatriya community by changing certain "provocative" words in his film "Golion Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela", which is releasing tomorrow.

An advertisement published in local newspapers by Bhansali Production today said "the words 'Jadeja' and 'Rabari' have been changed to 'Sanedo' and 'Rajri' as per the community's demand".

"If by mistake I have hurt sentiments of Kshatriya community, as alleged by the community president P T Jadeja, I apologise to the entire Kshatriya community by publishing advertisement in news papers," the advertisement quoted Bhansali as saying.
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18:42   45th transfer for IAS officer Khemka who took on Vadra?
NDTV reports: Indian Administrative Service officer Ashok Khemka, who has alleged that he is being persecuted for challenging land deals involving Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has been asked to shift again, in what could be the 45th transfer of his career.

The Congress government in Haryana has asked that Khemka be relieved as director general, archives department, a post he was assigned to in April this year.

Read the full report here
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18:13   Explosion inside Tata Steel factory, 6 injured
Around half a dozen Tata Steel employees and contract workers were injured following an explosion in the LD gas holder inside its factory in Jamshedpur today. 

Following the impact of the explosion, fire broke out in the adjoining gas pipeline. Six fire tenders were rushed to douse the flames, inspector of factories A K Mishra said. 

Three of the injured were out of danger and the rest were admitted to the Tata Main Hospital, he said. 

A roof of the gas holder was badly damaged under the impact of the explosion, Mishra said, adding, that the pipeline has been isolated. 

The rubber material of the gas holder was melting in the fire and the priority was to control the fire, he said. 

Meanwhile, one of the seriously injured employees was shifted to the Critical Care Unit of the hospital, company sources said. 

Tata Steel spokesman Prabhat Sharma said both the fire as well as the gas emission were under control and there were no reports of any casualty.
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18:07   Every Indian is proud of Sachin: Modi
Praising Sachin Tendulkar who is playing his last cricket Test for his unmatched hard work and dedication, Narendra Modi today said every Indian feels proud of the cricketer. 

The BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, who is in the midst of election campaigning, strayed for a few minutes from his Congress bashing exercise at a rally here as he spoke about Tendulkar's last match. 

"Today, every Indian is looking towards Mumbai where Sachin is set to retire from cricket. The country feels proud of Sachin. Every Indian is proud of taking Sachin's name. With his hard work, sincerity, dedication and countless efforts, Sachin has achieved new records in the game," Modi said. 
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17:37   Live! AAP apologises for using H****I remark against Shinde
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has issued an apology for the abusive language used by a party member against home minister Sushilkumar Shinde.

This is what the mail from AAP reads:

"Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) apologizes for unfortunate remarks by Rajeev Laxman (TV anchor) during a public meeting in RK Puram area yesterday. AAP does not encourage use of any unparliamentary language by its leaders or members or supporters.

"We are here to fight against corrupt politicians and we will continue our battle. Rajeev has already realised his mistake and apologised for his remarks.

"He has also clarified that AAP has nothing to do with his remarks and it was his mistake. AAP is against use of any foul language by its members or supporters.

"We stand for honest and clean politics and will continue to do so. We will also ensure that such mistakes are not repeated."

Here's the video on what AAP supporter Rajeev Laxman said.
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16:54  
Mahesh Bhupathi gets it right. On Twitter: How ucky is Pujara, to be able to be in the centre of this atmosphere? Once in a lifetime for sure...
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16:51  
And stingy China -- the world's second largest economy -- comes in with a measly $100,000in aid.  Read
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16:48   Live! India keeps its promise to Philippines: 15 tonnes of supplies fly out
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweets: Indian Air Force C 130 aircraft with 15 tonnes of relief supplies for Philippines left Delhi short while ago.

India is flying out 15,000kg of relief assistance to the typhoon-battered Philippines relying on its experience in handling similar disasters on its east coast and in Uttarakhand, as the killer hurricane threatens to spiral into a diplomatic debate over aid contributions.

New Delhi is also planning to send a ship with a mobile water purification plant in addition to the flight-load of blankets, mattresses, tents, tarpaulin and packaged food for tens of thousands of stranded survivors.

How the rest of the world is helping Philippines. Read
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16:20   Live! Mumbai Cong chief's U-turn on Lata: I have utmost respect for her
Mumbai Congress president Janardan Chandurkar makes a U-turn on his comments on Lata Mangeshkar. Chandurkar stirred up a row by demanding that the country's highest civilian honours bestowed on those who praise "communal forces" should be withdrawn.

Though he did not name melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, it is apparent that remarks were aimed at her, as the singer had recently said she wanted to see Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi become the Prime Minister.

"All awards and honours bestowed on those who are praising communal forces should be withdrawn," Chandurkar said at a function. However, the Congress leader has clarified that he had not named anyone.

Today, Chandurkar said that he regrets that Lata Mangeshkar was drawn into the controversy. Speaking to CNN IBN, he said his commnets were distorted and were created by the media. "I did not take Lata Mangeshkar's  name. Words have been put into my mouth. I have the utmost respect for her," he said. 
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16:06   Ram-Leela will screen in Delhi. But with new name
A Delhi court on Wednesday recalled its order restraining Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and EROS International Media Limited from using the title Ram-Leela for their yet-to-be-released film starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. The movie is scheduled to be released on November 15. Read
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16:01   Why Campa Cola Wouldnt Happen to a Slum
Human rights activists say that the situation reveals the biases of the government and media. They argue that poor people are regularly evicted from illegal dwellings, often in a much more brutal manner and rarely getting any attention. Here's why Campa Cola wouldn't happen to a slum. Read
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15:44  
Aamir Khan certainly has his priorities right. The actor, who was on his way to the Yashraj studio, Andheri, for a promotion of Dhoom 3, cancelled it for a seat in the stands to watch Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede.
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15:20   Sacked for article critical of Rahul and Modi?
Hartosh Singh Bal, the political editor of Open magazine, announced on Wednesday that he had received a letter of termination.

Mr. Bal said that his letter of termination offered no reason for the decision, but that the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which owns the magazine, had offered him generous severance pay in exchange for leaving quietly.

He also noted that his departure had been preceded by the publication of an article sharply critical of both Mr. Modi and of Rahul Gandhi, the vice president of the ruling Congress Party.   Read more
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15:17  
On the WSJ: Why Tendulkar Is Greatest Since Gandhi. Read
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15:06   India will stand by Lankan Tamils: Foreign Secretary tells TNA
India today assured Sri Lankan Tamils that it will stand by them and do its best to ensure that they are able to live a life of respect and dignity. This assurance was given by Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh to a delegation of the ruling Tamil National Alliance (TNA) that recently came to power in the Tamil-dominated Northern Province of Jaffna.
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15:03   Live! Modi's new low: Madam, you are ill. Let the shehzada take over
More on Narendra Modi's rally at Bemtara, Chhattisgarh and this tirade is truly in bad taste. Modi hits out at Sonia Gandhi:

"Madam,  you are ill. Let the shehzada (prince) take over. And let's see then if he can deliver round-the-clock electricity to Chhattisgarh," said Modi, while campaigning for his party, the BJP, which is asking voters for a third straight term in the state.

Sonia has been traveling abroad for medical check-ups for an undisclosed illness. 
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14:58  
After the Chicken Tikka Masala, the onion bhajia conquers Britain. Read
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14:52   Campa Cola Society Vs Slums: The Demolition Doublespeak
"To say that paying taxes is the only claim to citizenship in a city, is a false argument. It is the collective mass of the poor, working class that builds a city and makes it function. People like Nagesh clean your septic tank even when manual scavenging is illegal, the folks from Golibar run your trains, drive your autorickshaws, fix your plumbing, carry your garbage, walk your dogs, and generally ensure you can live in your Campa Colas. "

Read Campa Cola vs slums
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14:44   Ratan Tata critical of India's domestic investment policy
One of India's best-known industrialists has criticised the obstacles facing investors in India in a rare public comment on the country's policy shortcomings.

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of the Tata group and elder statesman of Indian business, made the televised criticism in a remark to David Cameron, UK prime minister, about the group's substantial investments in Britain. Read what he said.
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14:21   Cong makes deals with Maoists, says Modi, attacks 'Madam', 'Shehzada' again
Narendra Modi today accused the Congress of doing secret deals with Maoists in Chhattisgarh, while repeatedly targeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi as 'Madam' and 'Shehzade'.

"The Congress lacks the courage to fight Maoists. They do backdoor deals with them. But (Chief Minister) Dr. Raman Singh is fighting them," Modi said at a rally in Bemetara.

Modi let loose a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress leaders, repeatedly deriding the party's performance in power.

"Is there even one Congress government in the entire country that is giving 24-hour power supply including in Delhi where Madam, PM, Shehzada live?" said the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, as he boasted about uninterrupted power supply in his own state, Gujarat. Read more
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14:17   'Exceptional phenomenon' Tendulkar was 'child prodigy who exceeded his potential'
The Australian media has branded Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar as an ''exceptional phenomenon'' and a ''child prodigy who exceeded his potential''.

The overwhelming 19.7 million hits for Tendulkar''s 200th and final five-day Test match, which crashed the website selling them, testified to his unmatched standing in India as both a sports and a cultural icon.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Tendulkar was the youngest active Test cricketer - and the fourth-youngest ever - when he made his debut in 1989 at just 16 years and 205 days old and he leaves the game 24 years later as the oldest active international player.

Among the many tributes pouring in for the Little Master, an US writer said that although Tiger Woods and David Beckham may cross more boundaries, nowhere do these players carry the weight of expectation that Tendulkar carries in India and among the Indian diaspora.

The report mentioned that Tendulkar was the only active player named by Wisden Cricketers'' Almanack to its all-time team last month in its 150 years of existence.
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14:14   Mammoth US aid fleet arriving in the Philippines to help typhoon victims
Much-needed relief arrived in the Philippines today, when two US Navy ships sailed in to help hundreds of thousands who have gone without food and clean water for nearly a week.

The destroyers USS Lassen and USS Mustin led the way for a mammoth aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, which has 80 aircraft and 5,000 sailors to distribute food, water and medicine, the Navy said.

A nearly 700-foot supply ship is not far behind. Read more
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14:12   Muzaffarnagar riots: SIT files charge sheet against 2 BJP MLAs
A Special Investigation Team has filed its first charge sheet in the Muzaffarnagar riots against 11 accused, including BJP MLAs Suresh Rana and Bhartendu Singh, for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, among other offences.

According to SIT sources, the charge sheet was filed in court against the 11 accused under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the IPC, besides seven criminal acts in Muzaffarnagar yesterday.
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14:05   Bangladesh garment trade impasse nears end
Garment manufacturers in Bangladesh have agreed to increase the minimum monthly wage to $68 for the nearly four million workers toiling in the industry.

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14:04   Muzaffarnagar riots: SIT files charge-sheet against 2 BJP MLAs
A Special Investigation Team has filed its first charge-sheet in the Muzaffarnagar riots against 11 accused, including BJP MLAs Suresh Rana and Bhartendu Singh, for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, among other offences.        

According to SIT sources, the charge-sheet was filed in court against the 11 accused under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the IPC, besides seven criminal acts.
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13:50   So, what's Indias child health record on Childrens Day
As India celebrates Children's Day, Thursday, the frightening Unicef statistic that 1.4 million children under five die every year in this country, the vast majority of them from preventable diseases, should not be forgotten. Read more
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13:41   On assignment with Sachin Tendulkar
Apna, amader or aapla.

Embrace Sachin Tendulkar whichever way you want, for this sapnon ki mahanagri has many with some tale about The Master or a remote connection with him.

In a small way, even I've been a part of the Sachin saga spanning almost a quarter of a century.

Yes, it has been that long when much is judged by the T20 yardstick.

Read more
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13:35  
At Wankhede, Chanderpaul out for 25, WI stumble.

Crowds cheer Sachin! Sachiiin! and come up with an Haiku of sorts...

Ganpati Bappa Morya
Pudcha Over Sachin-la dya
Tendulkar bowling kar.

Go here for the live commentary on the match.
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13:23   'INS Vikramaditya will be a game-changer'
The "mother" will now get a "grandmother" for company. And while the former may be getting slightly toothless with age, the granny will pack a formidable punch capable of knocking down adversaries wanting to challenge her.

Known in naval circles as the "mother" since she was commissioned in 1987 as a second-hand warship bought from the UK, India's solitary aircraft INS Viraat is now 55-year-old.

Though it still constitutes two acres of sovereign Indian territory cruising on the high seas, this 28,000-tonne old warhorse is left with just 11 Sea Harrier jump-jets to operate from its deck.

On Saturday, it will get a granny almost double its size. INS Vikramaditya, the refurbished aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov packed with sensors and weapons, will join the Indian combat fleet when it's commissioned by defence minister A K Antony at Severodvinsk in Russia on November 16.  Read the full story here.

NDTV'S Nitin Gokhale tweets factoids on the ship.

INS Vikramaditya almost brand new ship. involved replacing 2300 kms of cable, which is a little short of half of the entire coastline of India!

Vikramaditya capable of sustaining herself at sea for 45 days. capable of ops up to a range of over 7,000 nautical miles or 13000 kms.
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13:06   Oops! MNS names 'Aaditya Thackeray' as its students' wing chief
In a major embarrassment to Raj Thackeray's group, a press release issued by the MNS Vidyarthi Sena -- the students' wing -- addressed Aaditya Thackeray as their honourable chief and thanked the Yuva chief for the new appointments. Read the full story here.
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13:04   Modi is a challenge for BJP, NOT Cong: Jaiswal
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is not a challenge for Congress, but for his own party, Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said, asserting that the saffron party was "uneasy" due to his statements.

"Modi is not a challenge for Congress but for his own party. BJP itself is uneasy due to his statements," Jaiswal told reporters at a function in UP.

He said the claims in favour of Modi would be "exposed" before the people.

"The type of talks and tall claims made in favour of Modi will be exposed before the people."

In reply to a question, Jaiswal said not only 'khooni panja' (blood soaked hand) remark for Congress, but all of Modi's other remarks too "are cheap".

On VHP's allegation that Congress had trapped Asaram Bapu, Jaiswal said his party would never do such a thing and asserted that the law was taking its course.
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12:56   Sri Lankan 'war crimes' warning for UK PM Cameron
UK PM David Cameron has been warned by the Sri Lankan government not to quiz them over alleged war crimes in 2009. Cameron has rejected calls to boycott a Commonwealth summit in the country, saying he would use his visit to raise its human rights record.

But the Sri Lankans said he had no right to bring it up as he had not been invited on that basis. Read more
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12:38   Prof Joseph: Dismissal more painful than attack
This is our 2010 interview with the professor whose hand was chopped off. Read

A Magistrate Court has exonerated college lecturer T J Joseph, whose hand was chopped off by activists of a radical outfit, of the charge of hurting religious sentiments of a community through a question paper he set for his students.
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12:33   Locals block track over jumbo deaths, carcasses being removed
Locals blocked tracks in Jalpaiguri town station for about one hour today to protest the death of six jumbos by a train inside Chapramari forests in the Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal.

The protestors were demanding that the speed of trains passing through the Chapramari wildlife sanctuary stretch be restricted to 25 - 40 km/hr, police said.

The blockade did not much affect the train movement and was withdrawn in a hour's time, railway sources said. Meanwhile, carcasses of six elephants were being removed from the spot, forest officials said.

At least six pachyderms were mowed down by a Guwahati-bound passenger train inside Chapramari forests, around 18 km from the Banarhat police station, last night when a herd of around 40 jumbos was crossing the railway tracks.
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12:29   How Sachin Tendulkar changed Yorkshire cricket forever
Sachin Tendulkar did not rewrite the record books at Yorkshire in 1992, but he certainly left a legacy and made many friends. Read more
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12:24   Lecturer whose hand was chopped off is acquitted in question paper case
In a relief to college lecturer TJ Joseph, whose hand was chopped off by activists of a radical outfit, a Magistrate Court here has exonerated him of the charge of hurting religious sentiments of a community through a question paper he set for his students.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate at Thodupuzha, considering the police case, discharged Joseph yesterday from the case accepting his plea that he had prepared the questions for the graduate course without any mala fide intention.

A former lecturer of Malayalam literature of Newman College at Thodupuzha, Joseph was attacked and his right hand chopped off allegedly by activists of a fundamentalist outfit on July 5, 2010, while he was going to church with his family members.

The attackers told him that he was being punished for sacrilegious undertones of one of the questions he set for the second year graduate students.
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12:19   Cong MP 'feels suffocated by feudal setup', joins BJP
In a setback to the Opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh, its Lok Sabha MP from Hoshangabad seat, Rao Uday Pratap Singh, today resigned from the party and joined the ruling BJP along with some of his supporters.

Singh's decision to quit the party and his joining the BJP was announced at a press conference addressed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Bhopal today.

Praising the leader, Chouhan said, "Pratap is not only a good politician but also doing good social work in many areas."

Chouhan said he had already been influenced by Pratap's style of functioning and added that the two would work together for the development of the state.

Pratap said he was "feeling suffocated" in the Congress as it was trying to "impose feudal leadership", at a time when the son of a farmer was leading the state.
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12:14  
Here's a factoid we got off Twitter: UberFacts: Most lip balms are made with salicylic acid crystals - An ingredient that causes your lips to peel, so you use more lip balm.
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11:59   Pink Star diamond sells for world record $83 million
The "Pink Star", a huge flawless pink diamond, sold for 76.3 million Swiss francs ($83.02 million) including commission fees in Geneva on Wednesday, a world record price for a gemstone at auction, Sotheby's said. Have a look.
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11:46  
Dr Ashok Mitra on the insanity over Tendulkar in India on the Telegraph, Calcutta. Read
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11:43   Karnataka medical student set on fire, motive not known
A 22-year-old medical student has been set on fire in Kolar, Karnataka. The student has suffered 60 per cent burns and is battling for life in a hospital in Bangalore. The motive behind the attack is not known yet, says the police. Details awaited.
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11:38  
On Pt Jawaharlal Nehru's 124th birth anniversary, listen in to that stirring Tryst with Destiny speech. Hear

And for all Nehru critics this tweet is worth a read: Rajdeep Sardesai: To those who abuse Nehru, go spend 10 years in jail, help usher democracy, set up IIMs/IITs, build PSUs, become global statesmen.
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11:32   Research in India happens in a few elite institutions
Shiraz Naval Minwalla, a professor of theoretical physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, won the New Horizons in Physics Prize for 2013 on November 5.

The $100,000 prize, which recognises "promising researchers,' is awarded by the Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation, which was set up by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner in 2012.

Dr. Minwalla has been cited for his contributions to the study of string theory and quantum field theory, especially in improving our understanding of the equations governing fluid dynamics, and using them to verify the predictions of all quantum field theories as opposed to a limited class of theories before.

On November 12, he was also awarded the Infosys Foundation Prize in the physical sciences category. Excerpts from an interview with The Hindu. Read
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11:20   MCA removes Kohli's hoardings from Wankhede
Left embarrassed after Virat Kohli's prominent advertising billboards overshadowed the retiring Sachin Tendulkar's pictures, the Mumbai Cricket Association removed the rising star's hoardings from the Wankhede stadium where the senior batsman led the out Indian team for his 200th and final Test here today.

Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has 51 different pictures of Tendulkar with his Test centuries and names of oppositions inscribed on rectangular billboards, albeit indecipherable, which are put on the perimeter of the Wankhede Stadium roof.

Even though the product of the FMCG company is displayed next to Tendulkar's hoarding, Kohli's advertisements, which till yesterday dominated the attention, were missing from the stadium.

Meanwhile, after the toss, the Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal released commemorative postage stamps to pay tribute to the veteran batsman. The 40-year old batting great is only the second person after Mother Teresa to have a stamp released after him, when he is alive.
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11:17  
The 'Time' magazine put out a special online feature highlighting Tendulkar's 10 greatest moments, including his 664-run unbroken partnership with fellow cricketer Vinod Kambli in 1988, becoming the captain of the Indian team in 1996 at age 23, surpassing Caribbean great Brian Lara to become the highest run scorer in Test history in 2008 and the 2011 World Cup win.
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11:16   In which the world salutes Sachin...
Mick Jagger pays tribute to Tendulkar: Saluting you Sachin on your last Test match. Thanks for all the wonderful cricket you've shown us over the last 25 years, we'll miss you.

An op-ed in the 'New York Times' likened Tendulkar's retirement from cricket to the death of Mahatma Gandhi. "As the moment of his (Tendulkar's) departure looms, the country is in the fevered throes of one last, mammoth celebration, but also on the un-self-conscious brink of
mourning," the NYT op-ed piece titled 'Where the Gods Live On ... and On' said.

And this is the commemorative postage stamp released by the government.
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11:01   Indias Camel Doctors
One more from the WSJ on the Pushkar Fair. In the usually sleepy Rajasthani desert town of Pushkar, thousands of lean, athletic-looking camels are on display for prospective buyers at the annual cattle fair, one of the largest livestock markets of its kind in the world.

But many of the humped creatures, who have traveled to the site by foot, often for days at a time, are in less than peak condition, bruised and battered from the journey.

That's where the on-site camel surgery steps in. Read
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10:59  
Want a Holiday in India? Wait for the Moon. Read 
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10:56   Nehru-Patel: The divide that never was
Any Nehru-Patel differences have been deliberately exaggerated by partisan interests. In truth, they shared a close bond that overrode the differences. Read
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10:47   'Lavasa deliberately, systematically cheated house owners'
As Campa Cola residents rejoice at the Supreme Court's stay order on demolition, residents of Lavasa, the luxury township near Pune, speak of their nightmare. Read the blog.  
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10:43  
After the Congress core group decision that the Prime Minister will not attend the CHOGM meet, Dr Singh had written a letter to Lanka president M Rajapaksa stating his inability to attend the meet.
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10:37   Rajiv wanted Bofors money to run Congress: Ex-CBI chief
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi wanted commission paid by defence suppliers to be used exclusively for the purpose of meeting expenses of running the Congress, a former CBI director has claimed in his autobiography. Read more
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10:32  
Congress MP Uday Pratap Singh from Hoshangabad joins the BJP. Details awaited. 
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10:26   CHOGM leaders must press Lanka on human rights: HRW
Leaders of Commonwealth countries attending the CHOGM summit must press host nation Sri Lanka on its human rights record and demand accountability, a prominent rights group has said.

"The world will be watching to see if Commonwealth leaders speak out for the victims of abuses or stay silent on behalf of the summit's host," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

"The Commonwealth risks its credibility as an international forum if it doesn't publicly press Sri Lanka on its rights record and the lack of accountability for wartime atrocities," Adams said yesterday.
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10:21   He didn't tell me: SL prez on why PM skipped meet
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday expressed satisfaction over External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit. 

"I am satisfied," he told a press conference when asked whether he was satisfied with the level of Indian participation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meet that starts in Colombo on Friday. 

When an Indian reporter stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has skipped the conference in deference to public sentiments in Tamil Nadu, Rajapaksa shot back, "But he has not said this to me".
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09:44   Lanka fumes over Cameron's 'request'
British Prime Minister David Cameron's request for a meeting with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss the island nation's alleged war crimes while crushing its civil war -- on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo -- has infuriated the Lankan government.

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09:38   Military restraint is not a bad option for India
India's traditional practice of non-violence while dealing with terrorism, however imperfect, is still a less risky option than the use of military force to tackle extremism, according to an expert.

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09:35   Next govt has to focus on subsidies
The next central government will have to clean up the country's subsidy structure and decide which subsidies to keep.

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08:52   Indian-American surgeon gets highest US immigrant award
An Indian-American transplant surgeon has been presented with a prestigious immigrant award of the US government, in recognition of his outstanding achievements.       

Dr Rahul Jindal, currently a staff transplant surgeon at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre and professor of surgery at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, was presented the 'Outstanding American by Choice' award.        

Lori Scialabba, Deputy Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, while presenting the award, said that Jindal has played a crucial role on the medical team that conducted groundbreaking surgery at Walter Reed AMC on Thanksgiving Day in 2009.
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08:51   No immigration reform this year: US
US House of Representative Speaker John Boehner has said the Republican Party would not take up the immigration reform bill this year, in a major blow to the chances of a comprehensive immigration reform.        

The move has given more breathing ground for Indian companies, who see this as an opportunity and an additional time to convince the lawmakers about the need to do away with the certain provisions of the bill, which if implemented would an make adverse impact on their businesses.
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08:48   7 killed in Karnataka bus fire
Seven people were killed while 40 others injured, six of them seriously, when a Mumbai-bound bus from Bangalore caught fire after hitting a road median early today.        

The mishap occurred near Kunimelli bridge, about 14 km Haveri, police said.        

The bodies of the victims are yet to be identified, Haveri SP Shashi Kumar said, adding that the Volvo bus with 52 people on board had left Bangalore on Wednesday night.

Image used for representational purpose
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03:07   Blasts near Shia mosques leave several injured in Pak
Several people, including policemen and media persons, were injured today in bomb blasts near two Shia mosques in this Pakistani city. First two blasts took place close to an Imambargah in the Pahar Ganj locality of North Nazimabad.

Two hours later unknown men threw hand grenades at another Imambargah in New Karachi in which one policeman was injured. The police said that the twin remote-controlled blasts in Nazimabad tookplace within a space of one hour but no casualties took place.

"So far we know that around 11 people have been injured including some policemen and reporters of two television channels in the blasts," senior police official Aamir Farooqi said. The blasts damaged some cars and auto-rickshaws which were parked close by, television channels reported. 
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01:02   Pope Francis 'is mafia target after campaigning against corruption'
The Guardian reports: Pope Francis's crusade against corruption has made him a target forItaly's all-powerful mafia clans, a leading anti-mob prosecutor has warned.

Nicola Gratteri, who has battled Calabria's shadowy 'Ndrangheta mafia, said on Wednesday that Francis's attempt to bring transparency to theVatican was making the white collar mobsters who do business with corrupt prelates "nervous and agitated".

Read the full article here

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00:27   Where the Gods live on ... and on
NYT's Tunku Varadaran on Tendulkar: A popular Indian historian once remarked to me that India is a country where men don't age well, and of no one is this observation truer than of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, a man who is, at 40 years and some 200 days, the oldest member of India's cricket team.But let me first be complimentary.

Mr. Tendulkar, whom everyone calls Sachin, is the most revered cricketer in India; in fact, it would be entirely accurate to describe him as the most revered contemporary Indian, or even, with only a pinch of hyperbole, the most revered Indian since Mahatma Gandhi held the nation in thrall. Suspend your disbelief and think of him as a cross between Babe Ruth and Martin Luther King.

Read the full article here
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00:12   Terrorism is Congress' gift to Punjab: Badal
Referring to a book by a former DGP, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday claimed the Congress' was responsible for fuelling terrorism in the state.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a sub-divisional administrative complex, Badal said, "We have been saying from the beginning and will tell again that Congress is responsible for the terrorism in Punjab. This is Congress' gift to Punjab indeed."

Badal said this in reference to a book written by former state DGP Kirpal Dhillon, in which he has accused former President Giani Zail Singh and former Union Ministers Buta Singh and Arjun Singh of being responsible for terrorism in Punjab.
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00:11   Ashok Khemka denies being on poll duty
Senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka was on Wednesday at the centre of another controversy with the state government stating that he has been sent on election duty and hence the post held by him has been temporarily given to another officer, an order he contested.

Questioning the government order, Khemka, who hit the spotlight last year when he cancelled mutation of Robert Vadra-DLF land deal as Haryana's Town and Country Planning head, said he has not proceeded on any election duty and therefore he has not handed over his charge to anyone.

In a minor reshuffle announced on Tuesday, the Haryana government announced posting of Pradeep Kasni, Secretary to Haryana administrative reforms department as secretary Haryana archives department and director general, archives, Haryana in addition to his present duties "during the period of election duty of Ashok Khemka." 

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