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Tue, 02 February 2016
Rohith suicide: Government notifies setting up of judicial commission

Timeline  Refresh

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23:44   BJP misguided MCD workers to go on strike: AAP
AAP today accused BJP of "misguiding" MCD workers to go on strike so as to create an "antagonistic" view of the Arvind Kejriwal government. The party said a "washout" is staring at BJP in the Delhi civic polls in 2017. 

"The hoodwinking and deceiving of MCD employees by BJP-controlled three corporations in Delhi and the BJP leadership is to create an antagonistic view against the Kejriwal government of Delhi has been exposed.

"With MCDs today stating in the court that the salaries of the employees have been paid till December, it is now sufficiently clear that the MCD workers were prompted and misguided to go on strike on January 27 and it was done with the ulterior motive to disrupt the city," the party said in a statement.
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23:33   Rohith suicide:Govt notifies setting up of judicial commission
The HRD Ministry today issued a notification appointing Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Roopanwal as a one-man judicial commission to look into the alleged suicide by dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University. 

As per the notification, the Commission would enquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the death of Vemula and fix responsibility for lapses, if any. 

It will also review the existing grievance redressal mechanism for students at the university and suggest improvements. Vemula's suicide on January 17 had triggered a massive outrage and opposition parties had launched a scathing attack on the government over the matter.

Following the uproar, the Ministry had set up a Fact Finding Committee to inquire into the circumstances leading to the death of the research scholar.
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23:09   SP to contest 2017 UP assembly elections alone: Akhilesh
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said the Samajwadi Party (SP) will contest the coming 2017 Assembly elections in the state alone on the basis of its development works.

"Samajwadi Party will not join hands with any other partyin the coming Vidhan Sabha elections .. . we will go alone and contest on the development works done by our government",Yadav told newspersons on the sidelines of a programme.

"Our government has done a lot of work... fulfilled the promises made in the election manifesto... why are the other parties not talking about development, they too should have concern for it," Yadav said.

The chief minister who attended the first ever"International Sarus seminar" said that his government was working towards conservation of wetlands which help in agriculture, environment and wildlife and promised that suggestions coming forward in the seminar will be followed.
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22:44   IAF to induct 700 more Garud commandos
In the aftermath of the Pathankot terror attack, Indian Air Force will raise ten additional squadrons of Garud commandos, comprising about 700 personnel, to protect its 950 flying and non-flying assets across the country, Defence sources said today. 

The IAF is also set to expedite its planned fortification of 54 main flying bases with better sensors and electrical fencing. The decisions were taken after the IAF completed security audit of its establishments following the Pathankot terror attack last month. The IAF has about 1,080 Garud commandos at present. "This is a continous process. The plan was already in the pipeline," sources said.

When the Garud force was first formed in 2003, the plan was to have about 2,000 personnel.

Electric fences have already been erected at bases in northern areas and, as per the earlier plan, Pathankot air base would have been the first in the western sector to get it, sources said.
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22:42   Delhi govt hospitals to soon provide 24X7 free medicines
The hospitals under Delhi government will provide free medicines round-the-clock to avoid any inconvenience to patients, officials said today. In the first phase, the facility will be provided at five hospitals -- Deen Dayal Upadhyay, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital.

"The aim is make medicines available 24X7 inside the hospital premises so that patients do not face any inconvenience. Usually, they have to run from one chemist shop to another to buy drugs," Delhi health Minister Satyendra Jain said.

Last month, a team of Health Department officials of Delhi government visited AIIMS to examine the model. Besides, the Delhi government has also decided to outsource the maintenance of medical equipment.
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22:11   Two killed as Pak forces open fire at protesting PIA staff
At least two persons were shot dead and 12 others injured on Tuesday during clashes between security forces and staff of Pakistan International Airlines protesting at Karachi's international airport against the planned privatisation of the ailing national flag carrier.

The clashes led to the disruption and then suspension of many domestic and international flights around the country's main airports.

The incident took place near the Jinnah International Airport here after the joint action committee which represents all unions of PIA gave a complete strike call on Tuesday despite the government enforcing Essential Services Maintenance Act under which all union activities were suspended and employees told to report on duty.

Though two of the protesters died of bullet wounds, Rangers and police denied opening fire at the site.

Kamran Afzal, the deputy inspector general (East Zone), has denied that the police backed by paramilitary rangers had opened fire on the protesting employees including women.

"The police fired tear gas shells and used water cannons but no shots were fired. Police officials on duty say gunfire was opened from within the crowd. We are investigating and will find out the truth after examining the two submachine gun shells that were found from the site," he said.

Pakistan yesterday enforced the ESMA against the PIA as the employees of the ailing national carrier announced an indefinite strike from today following the failure of talks with the government on the proposed privatisation move.   Pakistan Airlines Cabin Crew Association president Nasrullah Khan said that the strike would go ahead as the government has not accepted their four-point agenda.

A heavy contingent of Rangers and police personnel were deployed at the site to prevent protesters from entering the cargo gate and moving onto Jinnah Avenue.

Two employees including a member of the PIA's engineering department have died in the incident. At least 12 persons were injured, Sohail Baloch, who heads the joint action committee of the PIA employees, said.

As soon as the news of two employees' death was broadcast, PIA's flight operations across the country began shutting down in solidarity with the protesters, he said.

Domestic and international flight operations from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Multan were disrupted with many flights being cancelled, Baloch claimed.

However, Danish Gillani, spokesman of the PIA said that there were some disruptions in flights schedule but otherwise back up arrangements had been made for undisrupted operation of the flights.

Last week, the government postponed the planned privatisation of its national flag carrier after ongoing protests by PIA employees. It, however, has said that it will go ahead with the privatisation plans of the national airlines.

According to sources, Pakistan has already decided to offload several big organizations running into losses, including the PIA, under an agreement with the IMF and will ultimately sell it. Though, the government is giving the impression that with sale of limited shares, it was not going to privatise the PIA.

Television channels showed passengers waiting outside at airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and others in lounges waiting for their baggage to be delivered to them.

"Since all staff of the airlines is on a complete strike, there is no one to load or offload the baggage of passengers at different airports,' one passenger said from Lahore.
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21:35   Anupam Kher didn't apply for visa: Pak envoy
Pakistan's high commissioner to India Abdul Basit said today that no visa application was submitted to by vetren actor Anupam Kher for his Pakistan visit.

"No visa application was submitted to us, this is what the reality is," he said.

"Anupam Kher is a great artist. I've great respect for him. I don't want to challenge whatever he contented in his press conference. Visa request is processed when visa application is received, not on the basis of invitation letter from a visiting country," Basit said.

"We really wish his office had submitted his visa documents as other participants did," he said.
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21:24   AAP MLA booked for extortion, criminal conspiracy
Aam Aadmi Party's Karol Bagh MLA Vishesh Ravi and two other persons have been booked on charges of extortion, criminal conspiracy and intimidation in pursuance of a trial court order.

According to the FIR, Ravi, Vijay Chawla and Virender Aggarwal, had allegedly persuaded the complainant to donate Rs 10 lakh to the party in February 2015.

The complainant had written two cheques for the party but later changed his mind. When the cheques were dishonoured, the two accused, working at the behest of Ravi, threatened the complainant and tried to extort money from him.

The FIR stated that the accused also filed a complaint against the victim's company in order to further pressurise him into paying the money. The complainant claimed that the matter was communicated to the SHO of Paharganj in May last year but no action was taken.

A trial court had on Friday ordered filing of an FIR against the accused, following which a case was registered under sections 120 B (cheating), 387 (creating fear of death) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC at central Delhi's Paharganj police station.
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20:38   Another ISI spy held from Pathankot
A suspected spy, who was working as a labourer at Mamoon Cantonment in Pathankot, has been arrested by Punjab police.

The suspect has been identified as Irshad Ahmed, 30, resident of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police official said today.

A smartphone has also been recovered from his possession containing pictures of vital installations and sensitive equipment in the cantonment area, police said. He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act and a case has been registered at Shahpur Kandi in Pathankot, the official said.

According to the police official, Irshad was being handled by a person called Sajjad, who was earlier stated to have been arrested by J-K police.

"Irshad was entrusted with the task of collecting secret information which he then used to send to his handler Sajjad, who was passing on the information to his Pakistani handlers, who could be the ISI," the official said.

The suspect is being questioned by central and state security agencies, the official said, adding that investigation is underway.
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20:12   Terrorists attack CRPF personnel with grenade in J&K, operation continues
Two Central Reserve Police Force personnel were injured in a grenade attack in south Kashmir's Anantnag district this evening during an operation, Mukhtar Shah reports from Srinagar.

A senior officer of the CRPF said the security force's personnel and special operations group of the state police had jointly surrounded Arwani village near Bejibehara on specific information about presence of a group of terrorists there.

"As the security forces were laying a cordon, hiding militants hurled a grenade which exploded injuring two troopers, including an inspector. The injured were evacuated to hospital for treatment," the officer said.

"The operation is still continuing," he added.
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19:52   Court sends arrested ISIS suspect to 2 days transit remand
An ISIS suspect, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency, was today sent to two days' transit remand by a court in Bhopal for his production before a special court in New Delhi.

Azhar Iqbal, who was arrested by the NIA as part of the agency's crackdown on sympathisers of the Middle East terror group, was produced before the competent court.

The court has granted him two-day transit remand for his production before the NIA special court in New Delhi, a NIA release said.

Iqbal, a resident of Barkheda Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, was arrested in connection with a terror conspiracy.
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19:09  
Jammu and Kashmir: BJP asks governor for 8-10 days as Mehbooba Mufti sets terms.
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19:08   Why Democrats won in Iowa
At around 9 pm on Monday night, a video from the Iowa caucus made the rounds. At one unnamed precinct, there was a tie: Both Sen. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton had an equal number of supporters. But someone must win the precinct for officials to allocate delegates, and so they chose a classic solution to the problem of a tie: They flipped a coin. Clinton won the toss, and the precinct. Read
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18:44   Centre must take confidence building measures before we form govt in J-K: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that she wants the Centre to first take specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) before she stakes claim for government formation in J&K in alliance with the BJP.


"I have told the Governor that before we form government in alliance with BJP, the government of India shall make certain CBMs to create a congenial atmosphere in all three regions of the state,' Mufti said.


"Jammu Kashmir is a different state and it's facing many challenges. To meet them, the Centre shall ensure its whole hearted support to the new government,"she added.


After coming out of Raj Bhavan, Mehbooba said her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had entered into an alliance with BJP for welfare of the state and its people.


"Many even within the BJP were skeptical about it at that time, but he formed government with them and he had to do lot of fire fighting also to stitch this alliance," she said.


"I neither have the vision nor goodwill my father had, but I respect his vision," she said, adding that Mufti Sahib had been the only chief minister after Ghulam Mohammad Bakshi who used to go to even downtown of Srinagar.

Significantly, it was her first public statement on government formation after the death of her father on January 7. Earlier during the day, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh said "our coalition still exists' and "I hope that the government formation will take place soon".
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18:36   Chhota Rajan chargesheeted in fake passport case
CBI has filed its first charge sheet against gangster Chhota Rajan and three former officials of Bengaluru Passport Office accusing them of criminal conspiracy and forgery over the issuance of a fake passport to him which he used to escape to Australia.

The charge sheet has been filed in the Special Court, Patiala House which has also taken cognisance of it, CBI Press Information Officer R K Gaur said.

They said Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan and three passport officials-- Jay Shree Rahate, Deepak Natvarlal Shah and Lalitha Layamon's -- who were posted at Bengaluru passport office and are now retired have been made accused in the charge sheet.

CBI sources said the agency has levelled charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act in the charge sheet.

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18:27   Timeline of Sec 377 in court
Nov 7, 2008: HC reserves verdict on pleas filed by gay rights activists seeking decriminalisation of homosexual acts.

Jul 2, 2009: HC allows plea of gay rights activists and legalises sexual activity among consenting adults of same sex.

Jul 9: Delhi astrologer challenges HC verdict in SC. Later, several others including BJP leader Singhal (since dead), religious organisations, rights activists and yoga guru Ramdev's disciple also oppose the judgement.

Feb 15, 2012: SC begins final day-to-day hearing in the case.

Mar 27, 2012: SC reserves verdict. Dec 11, 2013: SC sets aside the 2009 Delhi HC order which had decriminalised gay sex.

Dec 20: Centre files review petition in SC seeking re-examination of its verdict.

Dec 24: Gay rights activists file review petition in SC seeking re-examination of its verdict.

Jan 28, 2014: SC refuses to review its verdict on criminalising gay sex, dismisses pleas of Centre, activists.

Apr 3: SC agrees to consider for an open court hearing on curative petitions filed by gay rights activists against its verdict criminalising homosexuality.

Feb 2, 2016: SC refers curative pleas on homosexuality to five-judge bench.
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17:59   Denied Pak visa because I am a Kashmiri Pandit, says Anupam
Anupam Kher addressing a press-conference on the Pakistan visa issue says  he did not personally ask for a visa, the organizers of the Karachi Literature Festival did. "But I want to know what others who are invited to Karachi think about me being denied visa, but yes I don't have anything against them. I was probably the only actor from Bollywood who wrote an open letter condemning attack on Peshawar school.

"The reason could be either I am a Kashmiri Pandit, or because I have spoken on intolerance debate," he said

Kher was one of the 18 Indians invited to the four-day festival by the organisers but he is the only one whose visa has not been cleared. The other 17 Indian participants have been given visas.

Kher, who has just been honoured with Padma Bhushan by the Indian government, was to participate in at least two sessions and his name figured prominently in the festival schedule.

Confirming that he has not been issued a visa, Kher on Tuesday said that he was very saddened by the development as he was looking forward to participate in the festival and use the platform to dispel misunderstandings in the minds of people there.

"We welcome their artistes in India. If there are objections to their performance at one place in India they are welcome at other places. But there is no reciprocity," he said.

As to why his visa has not been issued, Kher said, "I wish I knew. I am wondering if it is because I am a Kashmiri Pandit or because of my views on the tolerance debate in India."

Kher said the visa denial has left the festival organisers embarrassed and they have apologised to him. 

When contacted, Pakistan High Commission's head of media Manzoor Memon said, "Mr Anupum Kher has never submitted visa application to Pakistan High Commission....

"Please check out from him if he has any receipt," he added.

Rejecting Pakistan High Commission's contention that he had not applied for visa, Kher called it a "laughable explanation". He said organisers had completed the formalities for the visa.


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17:37  
@ShashiTharoor tweets this celebratory picture after the Supreme Court decided to reopen the Sec 377 curative plea. "W/director,writer&stars of the magnificent "Aligarh" as the SupremeCourt decides to re-examine 377 @BajpayeeManoj.
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17:36   "Talk" of Alagiri's return to DMK a rumour: Stalin
Seeking to put to rest speculations that his brother and former Union Minister M K Alagiri could return to the DMK, party treasurer M K Stalin today said the talk could be a rumour.

"It could be a rumour. He was expelled from the party several years ago. There is no compulsion for me to answer such questions," he told reporters when asked about "recent news" in a section of media that Alagiri, who was party's south zone organisational secretary, may return to DMK.

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17:26   Centre issues travel advisory for Zika virus, cautions pregnant woman
The Centre has issued guidelines on the Zika virus disease including travel advisory urging pregnant women to defer travel to affected countries.

This comes even as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency over the mosquito-borne virus.

"I have instructed all concerned to take steps for preventing entry and transmission of the virus in India. My ministry is fully geared to deal with the Zika Virus. No case has been reported in India. No need to panic," says Union health minister JP Nadda said.

On Friday, India had constituted a technical committee to formulate travel guidelines and a joint monitoring committee to review the global situation on the spread of the virus.


Read the ready reckoner on the Zika virus

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16:31   Chidambaram welcomes reference of same sex issue to larger SC
Former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today welcomed the Supreme Court decision to refer to a five-judge constitution bench the reexamination of the verdict on same sex relationships and hoped that the Delhi high court judgement on it will be upheld.
       
"I am happy that an error is being corrected.  This is only the first step. I look forward to the day when the SC will uphold the judgement of the Delhi High Court," he said in a statement.
        
Chidambaram was reacting to the decision of a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur to refer a bunch of curative petitions seeking review of the 2013 judgement that had reversed the Delhi High Court verdict that had decriminalised sex among gay adults.
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16:04   Bassi suggests protesters may have provoked police
Amid outrage over a video that shows police thrashing students, including women, during a protest, Delhi top cop B S Bassi today appeared to defend his force suggesting that the protesters may have provoked them.

"Right to protest coexists with what Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr said - The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins," the police commissioner posted on microblogging website Twitter. Although, Bassi attributed the quote to American Jurist Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, its origin is disputed as the adage is attributed to various legal luminaries. The quote is also recorded in a 1919 Harvard Law Review essay by legal philosopher Zechariah Chafee which contained a version spoken by an anonymous judge.
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16:01   RSS may scrap khaki chaddis for trousers, decision in March
A spectacular style makeover may see trousers replacing the khaki shorts that have defined members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS for over 90 years.

A change in the RSS uniform is on the agenda of the highest decision making body of the RSS - the Akhil Bharatiya Patinidhi Sabha - which meets on March 11-13 in Rajasthan.
 

Even the colour may change; grey, blue and black are being debated for the pants.
 

The RSS, the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP, set up a committee after many senior members suggested that it was time to update the Sangh uniform and ditch the flared "half-pants" to attract more young people. The proposal has been discussed at RSS forums for years, but a decision has never been taken. It was shot down at a meeting in 2009.
 
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who was general secretary then, was among those who supported a new-look uniform.   "When the well dug by ancestors gives dirty water, there is no point drinking from it. A new well can be dug," Bhagwat said, using a Hindi phrase that translates to changing with the times. -- NDTV.
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15:41  
Journalist and LGBT activist Ashok Row Kavi speaking to Rediff.com said, "We have won."
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15:38  
For today this is good news, says LGBT Activist Elena on SC hearing on #Sec377
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15:37  
Progressive step in the right direction, it is a corrective measure: Mohnish, LGBT Activist on SC hearing on #Sec377
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15:29   CJI to decide on 5-judge bench
However, no date has been fixed for hearing the curative petition, but TV reports say the case will be heard soon. The apex court has agreed to hear all eight curative petitions.  The Chief Justice of India will decide on the five judge bench to hear the curative plea.


First reactions from Ashok Row Kavi: We have opened the door to justice. We were afraid that the petition would not be entertained, but its a great step forward that the case has not been dismissed. My congratulations to all who are fighting for their rights. 
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15:25   SC reopens hearing on Sec 377, refers matter to 5-judge bench
The Supreme Court has referred the petitition on Section 377 to a five judge bench. In effect, the court has agreed to reopen the matter instead of dismissing the case.

The SC was hearing a curative petition of gay activists challenging its verdict criminalizing homosexuality in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur agreed to hear the curative petition filed by gay rights activists and NGO Naz Foundation against the apex court's December 11, 2013 judgement upholding validity of section 377 (unnatural sexual offences) of IPC and the January 2014 order, by which it had dismissed a bunch of review petitions.

Petitioners include gay activists, parents of gay people and NGOs.

A curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by judges in-chamber. In rare cases, such petitions are given an open court hearing.

The petitioners, including the NGO, which has been spearheading the legal battle on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, contended that there was an error in the judgement delivered on December 11, 2013 as it was based on an old law.

"The judgement was reserved on March 27, 2012 but the verdict was delivered after around 21 months and during this period lots of changes took place including amendment in laws which were not considered by the bench which delivered the judgement," the plea had said.

The gay rights activists had said thousands from the LGBT community became open about their sexual identity during the past four years after high court decriminalised gay sex and they were now facing the threat of being prosecuted.

They had submitted that criminalizing gay sex amounts to violation of fundamental rights of the LGBT community.
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15:11   Modi Govt takes potshots at UPA over MGNREGA implementation
Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah lends voice to the UPA scheme MGNREGA which celebrates its 10th anniversary. Abdullah tweeted: "Dr Manmohan Singh is right, history will judge him far more favourably than he has been judged so far. #MNREGA being a case in point. BJP never tired of criticising #MNREGA & are now selling it as if it was their gift to the nation. Thank you Dr Manmohan Singh Sahib."'


The NDA government today claimed it has brought a "transformation" in the rural job guarantee scheme which was in a "pitiable" state under UPA due to frequent curtailing of funds.


Asserting that schemes are "not cast in stone" and their modification is required with the passage of time, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said MGNREGA underwent change under NDA and new initiatives were taken besides increasing the fund allocation to the scheme so that its benefits could reach the people in a better way. "...tranformation has been brought in the implementation of this scheme.


When a government scheme runs for many years, an attitude of indifference develops towards it. A kind of indifference towards it was growing by 2013-14 when the scheme has entered its seventh and eight years.


"When there was a change of government in 2014-15, there was a talk in and outside Parliament on whether the scheme will be discontinued or its fund allocation will be curtailed. But the new government not only took forward the scheme but also increased its fund," Jaitley said, delivering his key note address at MGNREGA Sammelan in New Delhi.
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14:48   All eyes on room #1 of Supreme Court, verdict on section 377 any time now
The SC is hearing a curative petition of gay activists challenging its verdict criminalizing homosexuality in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur agreed to hear the curative petition filed by gay rights activists and NGO Naz Foundation against the apex court's December 11, 2013 judgement upholding validity of section 377 (unnatural sexual offences) of IPC and the January 2014 order, by which it had dismissed a bunch of review petitions.

Petitioners include gay activists, parents of gay people and NGOs.

A curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by judges in-chamber. In rare cases, such petitions are given an open court hearing.

Journalist and LGBT activist Ashok Row Kavi tweets: All eyes on Courtroom No 1 of Supreme Court. Activists were there by 2.30 pm and things are tense. Large number of LGBF moving towards the Supreme Court. Situation very tense. Keep up the spirit my people."
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14:44   All eyes on SC room #!
Journalist and LGBT activist Ashok Row Kavi tweeets: All eyes on Courtroom No 1 of Supreme Court. Activists were there by 2.30 pm and things are tense. Large number of LGBF moving towards the Supreme Court. Situation very tense. Keep up the spirit my people."

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14:38   Hillary Clinton wins Iowa caucus
It's official. Hillary Clinton wins first Democratic presidential nominating contest in Iowa, narrowly defeating Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton clocked 49.9%, while Sanders was snapping at her heels with 49.5% votes

Clinton was given the fright of her life as veteran socialist senator Bernie Sanders pushed her to the limit in the Iowa caucus, on a night of extreme drama in the first test of the US presidential election year. Ted Cruz, the maverick Texas senator, used his formidable ground game to beat the bombastic property tycoon Donald Trump into second place in the Republican race.
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14:33   Sharad Pawar accuses govt of misuse of power; says Bhujbals being targetted
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has come out strongly in support of tainted party colleague and former PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, reports ET.

Referring to the arrest of Bhujbal's nephew Sameer Bhujbal on February 1 by the Enforcement Directorate after the agency carried out nine raids at properties belonging to the Bhujbal family, Pawar said, "I have not seen government machinery being used like this for political vendetta ever in Maharashtra. We had a Shiv Sena government in power in 1995 too; they didn't target the opposition the way we are being targeted now."


Pawar slammed the ED and said that the agency was working at the behest of BJP MP Kiriti Somaiya. "This BJP MP tells what is going to happen and the ED follows it exactly. I have never seen for one allegation the investigating agency conducting raids thrice...I have never seen an agency follow such an extreme policy. I have not seen this in 40 years," he said.


The NCP chief said that the Bhujbal family was being targeted and the BJP government was practising "political vindictiveness"
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14:24   Man arrested from Pathankot Cantonment Is ISI spy, say police
The Punjab Police have on an intelligence tip-off arrested an Indian national in Pathankot, who they allege is an agent of Pakistan's spy agency the ISI or Inter Services Intelligence, reports NDTV. 


The police said Irshad Ahmed was working undercover as a manual worker at the Indian Army's 29 Division Headquarter in the Mamoon Cantt in Pathankot, where terrorists struck an air force base last month.


Intelligence agencies have reportedly recovered several photos of sensitive installations from Irshad's smart phone.The Pathankot Cantonment is one of the biggest and most sensitive military bases of the Indian Army.


The Army division based there includes infantry battalions and cavalry. Irshad's arrest is being seen as evidence that Pathankot, which borders Pakistan, is still on the terror radar despite security being strengthened after the Pathankot air base attack.


Security agencies have not as yet established a direct link between Irshad and last month's terror attack. They are investigating how Irshad got his instructions from across the border. Sources said he had been tasked with collecting photographs of all sensitive installations and equipment inside the cantonment and was sending them to his Indian handler, Sajjad, in Jammu.


Sajjad was arrested in Jammu recently for possessing arms illegally. He is believed to have been a conduit between Irshad and Pakistani handlers and allegedly passed on the photographs sent by Irshad through email and chat messaging services. Sajjad will now be questioned on the basis of what is revealed in Irshad's interrogation.


Six Pakistani terrorists attacked the Pathankot air base on January 2 and were killed in a gun battle that lasted nearly 4 days. Seven military personnel were martyred in the attack.
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14:09   'PM offered to trade marines for proof against Sonia'
A British arms agent wanted by Indian investigators in a helicopter scam has accused the Narendra Modi government of offering Italy the freedom of two marines in exchange for evidence linking Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her family to the corruption that hit the headlines in 2013.

Christian Michel, the 54-year-old agent, has made the allegations in a letter to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas in Hamburg and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague where Italy and India are battling legally over murder charges against the marines.This newspaper could not independently verify Michel's allegations. 
Read more
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14:08   LG summons top officer over police brutality on protestors
Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today summoned Delhi Police joint commissioner S K Gautam and sought a report over the police action against students during a protest outside RSS office in central Delhi's Jhandewalan area yesterday that has sparked widespread outrage.


Sources said that Gautam, who is the joint commissioner of Delhi Police's central range, briefed the Lt Governor over the issue at the latter's office today. Jung is learnt to have sought a detailed report on the incident. Gautam is heading the probe into the matter.


The probe was initiated by Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi after due consultation with Special Commissioner (Law & Order) Deepak Mishra. Delhi Police came under severe criticism after a video emerged in which its personnel were seen thrashing protesters and dragging activists by their hair outside the RSS office here during a demonstration against dalit student Rohith Vemula's suicide.


The video of Saturday's incident went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging the police force was being used as RSS and BJP's "private army" under a political dispensation that is at "war" with students across the country
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13:55   MNREGA spending at record high, no cut in allocation: FM
The BJP-led government has boosted spending under the UPA's flagship rural jobs scheme MNREGA to a record high and will for the first time ever provide funds over and above the budgeted amount, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

Dispelling doubts over the fate of the scheme floated by the previous Congress-led government, he said that while in previous years there has always been lower spending as compared to the Budgeted amount, this fiscal the government has not cut Plan Expenditure as it wants to boost growth.

Addressing a MNREGA Sammelan organised to mark the completion of 10 years of the scheme, Jaitley said there were apprehensions that the NDA government would end or replace the scheme with a new programme.

"But the new government has not only taken the scheme forward, but also hiked the fund allocation under the scheme," he said. "This government has not followed the practice of just making higher provisions and later cutting it. I think this would be the first year when the Rs 34,000-35,000 crore which was allocated has not only been spent fully, but also some more resources could be given to MGNREGA".

The Finance Minister said the actual spending under the scheme in the fiscal year ending March 31 "would be highest". "This country's financial system had a practice that when a Budget is presented, people discuss how much money has been allocated. But in full year, how much money is spent and by how much the allocation is cut, that doesn't attract attention," he said.
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13:51  
This lunch-stealing colleague got burned by an amazing trick. Read
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13:38  
Nirmal Singh (BJP) meets PDP's Mehbooba Mufti ahead of meeting with Governor.
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13:32   CEC, ECs head to Tamil Nadu to gauge poll preparedness
Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi and Election Commissioners Achal Kumar Joti and Om Prakash Rawat will be reaching Chennai on February 9 to review the state's preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The CEC and ECs will visit Puducherry on February 9 as well. February 10 and 11 will be spent in reviewing the poll preparedness of the state. The state will go to the polls in May.

During their stay in Chennai, the CEC and the ECs will meet representatives of all political parties, District Election officers, District Magistrates, SSPs and top civil and police officers and enforcement agencies of the state. The Commission will return to Delhi February 11. 
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13:26   Goa carnival: No dress code, but not like Brazil either, says govt
a Tourism today rubbished rumors that there will be a strict dress code for the state Carnival, which will begin on February 6. "There is no dress code. Only obscenity will not be permitted. This is not Brazilian carnival," Goa Tourism Development Corporation's Managing Director Nikhil Desai told PTI.

Desai said the dress would be the regular ones which are worn for Carnival festivities annually. "There is no restriction of whatsoever." Certain media reports had claimed that state government was trying to impose a dress code for the Carnival celebrations this year. The Carnival float parades would be held across major cities of Goa from February 6-9.

"While I agree vulgarity has no place in my carnival, people are allowed to wear what they want. There is no dress code for carnival," said Shalom Sardinha, who has been selected as King Momo for Carnival 2016. Shalom, son of former Goa Chief Minister Francis Sardinha, accused one legislator of trying to create confusion in the minds of people.
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13:12   Is this the end of Rajya Sabha TV?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is upset with the disruptions in the Rajya Sabha by the Congress Party, but the Prime Minister's Office is more concerned about Rajya Sabha TV per se.

The feedback about the party has not been positive. BJP MPs have complained to the PMO that the Rajya Sabha MPs are at times critical of the Modi government. RS TV receives grants from the government, but it wants independent coverage of news content, which is out of sync with government policies and programmes. Rajya Sabha TV came up for discussion before officials of the PMO for budgetary grants. The Department of Expenditure has also given a report to the PMO about RS TV.

A draft report of CAG and also a PIL filed by Prashant Bhushan is pending before the apex court.

Interestingly, Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who is also Leader of Rajya Sabha has to take a call. PMO has politically approached the RS TV as it is a pet project of the Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari.

The PMO wants to wait for one more year so that the Dr Ansari's successor will take a call on the continuance of RS TV. Talks are on whether it should be merged with Lok Sabha TV and have one channel for both houses.

BJP leaders are cribbing about the news content of RS TV which has always been encouraging negative pictures about the ruling party.
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12:42   Rohith and the real anti-nationals
It is a casteist mind that sees Rohith's actions as casteist. Rohith was a patriot because he held a mirror to society, because he reminded it of itspromise of assuring the dignity of the individual. This is the highest obligation of any intellectual: to tell the nation what is right. Read more
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12:16   16-yr-old from UP could be India's youngest jihadi
Times of India reports: When a Mumbai court last week sent a terror accused to a juvenile remand home, it underlined a disturbing trend for security agencies: that of outfits such as the Islamic State targeting the young.

The lawyers of the accused, Imran (not his real name), claimed he was 16 -- making him perhaps the youngest in the country to be arrested for terror links. 

A resident of Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, the accused is a Class XII student. He was arrested by Mumbai's ATS and UP police on January 24.

Imran's lawyer produced his Class X marksheet, which said he was born in May 1999, in the additional metropolitan magistrate's court in Sewri. 

Read more HERE
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12:08   Now, one in seven people on Earth use WhatsApp
Mobile messaging app WhatsApp today said it has crossed the one billion user milestone globally with the addition of 100 million users in last five months. 

"As of today, one billion people are using WhatsApp. That's nearly one in seven people on Earth who use WhatsApp each month to stay in touch with their loved ones, their friends and their family," WhatsApp said in a blogpost. 

In February 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by social networking site Facebook, its biggest buyout till date, for a whopping USD 19 billion. 

In a post on Facebook, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum said 42 billion messages were sent, 1.6 billion photos and 250 million videos shared everyday on the platform.

Also, there are one billion groups on WhatsApp, he said.

Previously, WhatsApp has said its service has seen strong uptake, specially across developing nations such as Brazil, India and Russia. 
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12:04  
Delhi: FIR registered against AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi in a 2015 extortion matter.
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11:42   Anupam Kher says Pakistan denied him visa; officials say he never applied
Actor Anupam Kher today said that he was "sad and disappointed" that he was denied a visa by Pakistan to attend the Karachi literature festival.

"I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied," Kher told the news agency ANI.

Pakistani officials claim that the veteran actor had not even applied for a visa.

"He has not submitted a visa application. Please check from him if he has any receipt," Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Manzoor Ali Memon told reporters.

The Karachi literature festival is to start on Friday.
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11:28   Alphabet, not Apple, is world's most valuable firm
Alphabet, search giant Google's parent, has finally dislodged Apple as the world's most valuable firm based on value of shares. But the time to pop the bubbly may still be some time away. 

Riding on its much better-than-expected results in its latest quarterly earning report, which rose five per cent to USD 4.92 billion, Alphabet was estimated to be worth USD 530.1 billion, compared to Apple's USD 534.7 billion. 

But what put the California-based Internet search giant ahead was that its shares soared in after-hours trading to reach USD 791. 

If these gains hold later today, when New York's Nasdaq opens, Alphabet would officially overtake Apple as the world's biggest company by market value.
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11:16   RBI keeps interest rates unchanged at 6.75 pc
JUST IN: The Reserve Bank of India kept its key policy rate unchanged in its sixth bi-monthly monetary policy review on Tuesday.

The repo rate remains unchanged at 6.75 pc, reverse repo rate at 5.75 pc. 

RBI says assuming normal monsoon rain, inflation seen around 5 pc by 2016/17 end, not factored in pay commission impact

RBI says to take steps to ease doing business, contribute to ecosystem conducive for growth of start-up companies
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10:43   In a first, Obama to visit mosque in US tomorrow
In a bid to highlight the importance of religious freedom and tolerance, US President Barack Obama, for the first time in his presidency, will visit a mosque tomorrow and interact with community leaders. 

Obama's mosque visit, in the vicinity of Washington, DC, comes amid increasing backlash against the Muslim community, in particular the anti-Islam rhetoric coming from the Republican presidential candidates. 

This would be the first ever visit to a mosque by Obama inside the US, although he has visited mosques overseas. 

"It will be an opportunity for the president to celebrate the contributions that Muslim-Americans have made to our nation, but also reaffirm the importance that religious freedom has to our way of life," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. 

"There obviously has been some discussion about this in the context of the political debate in the country. The president's visit I think is an important moment to acknowledge those two things," he said.
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10:40   IIT-Kanpur alumnus appointed to key World Bank position
An Indian has been appointed to a key position in the World Bank with President Jim Young Kim assigning him a role to provide strategic leadership to address the challenge of fragility, conflict and violence. 

Saroj Kumar Jha is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Jha till last week was World Bank's Regional Director for Central Asia based in Almaty since February 2012. He assumed the position of Senior Director for the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at the World Bank yesterday. 

Jha has been tasked by World Bank President Jim Young Kim to provide strategic leadership to address the challenge of fragility, conflict and violence, working across the Bank Group and in close collaboration with partners.
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10:29   Priyanka Chopra to present at the Oscars
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has made a successful international debut with American show Quantico, is all set to present at the upcoming 88th Academy Awards.

Her name comes in the second slate of presenters that includes Steve Carell, Quincy Jones, Byung-hun Lee, Jared Leto Julianne Moore, Olivia Munn, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel Andy Serkis, JK Simmons, Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon. 

Reacting to the news, the 33-year-old Bajirao Mastani star tweeted, Looking forward @TheAcademy!! This will be an insaaaane night!" 

She has been congratulatory messages on Twitter from her fans, colleagues from Bollywood and critics since the announcement.

Replying to one such post, the actress wrote, "Now the hunt for the perfect dress begins!!! #oscars2016." 

Priyanka becomes the sole representative of India at this year's Oscar ceremony. The country's official entry in the best foreign film category for the Oscars 2016, Court could not make it to the final five.
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10:26   SC to hear plea for relook on verdict on gay sex today
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hold an open court hearing of the curative petition by NGO Naz Foundation seeking relook at its verdict upholding the validity of Indian Penal Code's section 377 criminalising gay sex. (READ THE FAQ ON SECTION 377, HERE)

A bench of three seniormost judges -- Chief Justice T S Thakur, Justice Anil R Dave and Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar -- would hold the open court of the issue that caused flutters both in legal circles and amongst gay rights activitsts after top court by its December 12, 2013 upheld the validity of section 377. 

The apex court by its order of December 12, 2013 and subsequently in the review petition on January 28, 2014, upheld the validity of section 377, finding no constitutional infirmity in the penal provision that criminalises homosexuality.

Upholding the validity of section 377, the court had set aside the Delhi High Court verdict of July 2, 2009 by which it had read down section 377 and decriminalising consensual sex between the adults of same gender.
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10:24  
DCW issues a summon to Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi on police brutality issue.
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10:17   Pakistan contingent gets govt clearance for South Asian Games
Pakistan's 456-strong contingent for the upcoming South Asian Games in India has been cleared by its government to participate in the event starting February 5.

"The government has given clearance for the contingent to go to India and take part in nearly 22 disciplines including field hockey," Akhtar Ganjera, the Director-General of Pakistan Sports Board, said. 

The Games are set to be held in two cities -- Guwahati and Shillong -- from February 5-16.

Ganjera said there would be no compromise on the security for the Pakistani contingent during the Games and the Indian Olympic Association had assured them of top notch arrangements for the athletes.

"We are going there to compete and try to win and also foster better relations with India," he said. 

Pakistan Olympic Association President Lt General (ret) Arif Hasan said players' safety was their primary concern.

"We have asked the Indian government to provide the best possible security to our athletes and they have assured us there would be no issues at all." 
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09:18   White House race: Trump loses Iowa battle; Hillary fights on
Iowa voters began the nationwide process of choosing a new US president, with Ted Cruz prevailing over Donald Trump in the Republican caucuses. Cruz earned the support of around 28 percent of caucusgoers.

Donald Trump got about 24 percent of the vote. Marco Rubio got about 23 percent of the vote. Ben Carson and other candidates were far behind the top three.

Cruz's win is a surprise for pollsters, most of whom had been predicting a Trump victory. And it's a shock for Republican insiders, many of whom loathe Cruz as much as they loathe Trump. Cruz is a U.S. senator, but he's not considered an establishment figure.

The results of the Democrats' Iowa caucuses remained too close to call, meanwhile, but early entrance poll data indicated a lead for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to NBC News. In that race, NBC News was allocating 15 of 52 delegates to Clinton, and 15 to Vermont US Senator Bernie Sanders as of 9:50 pm ET (8:20 am IST).

Meanwhile, NBC News reported that former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will suspend his campaign in a speech later on Monday night. And former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted just before 10:30 pm ET (9am IST) that he had officially suspended his campaign, as well.

Don't understand the US election process? CLICK HERE
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09:05   Modi's rally in Coimbatore today; BJP leaders see it as 'turning point' in TN politics
With the assembly elections a few months away in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday address a public meeting in Coimbatore, being billed by the party as the launch of its poll campaign and "a turning point rally" in the history of the state politics.

On a five-hour visit to the textile city in Western Tamil Nadu, which is among the 20 cities choosen for the Centre's Smart City Project, Modi would also launch an ESI Medical College in Coimbatore.

While the elections are yet to be announced and all parties, including the Dravidian majors ruling AIADMK and DMK, are in the preparatory mode, state BJP leaders have said Modi's rally would mark the launch of its campaign.

The BJP, which led a rainbow seven-party alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, is aiming to form a strong combine for the assembly polls, due in a few months.
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08:59   Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections: Polling begins
Polling kicked off on Tuesday in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections that witnessed a high-voltage campaign among the ruling TRS, opposition Congress, TDP-BJP combine and the MIM.

About 74 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in about 7,000 polling stations from 7 am to 5 pm.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made by police to ensure a free and fair poll.

The counting of votes would be taken up on February 5.

The electioneering for the GHMC resembled a legislative assembly poll with senior leaders from all major parties hitting the streets months before the polling. Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, M Venkaiah Naidu, Radha Mohan Singh, Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Bandaru Dattatreya were among those who campaigned for the candidates of the BJP-TDP alliance.

TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who takes credit for turning the city into an IT hub, canvassed for the candidates of the alliance for two days.
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08:50   White House race: Clinton lead razor-thin in Iowa; Trump trails
The battle to elect the next president of the United States got underway, with frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton hoping to win the opening test in Iowa, the first state to cast votes. 

Voters have begun meeting -- or caucusing -- across the state in schools, churches and other venues.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton's lead over Bernie Sanders was razor-thin with more than half of precincts reporting.

Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz moved ahead of Donald Trump before a quarter of the votes were counted and remained there.

Clinton's results revived memories of the former secretary of state's disappointing showing in Iowa eight years ago.

"We knocked on 125,000 doors this past weekend," Clinton told NBC's Today show. "Although it's a tight race, a lot of the people who are committed to caucusing for me will be there and standing up for me, and I will do the same for them in the campaign and in the presidency."

The Iowa caucuses mark the first real report card for presidential hopefuls.

A win for a candidate does not by any means spell a nomination at his or her party's convention, but victory (or even a competitive placing) in Iowa can help build momentum into the rest of the year. On the other hand, a weak result in the state could mean the beginning of the end for some campaigns especially in the crowded GOP field.
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03:38   London police removes bail conditions on MQM chief
The London Metropolitan Police today cancelled the bail conditions placed on Pakistan's Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation.

The MQM said in a statement tonight in Karachi that the police had remove bail conditions for 61-year-old Hussain and two other party leaders - Muhammad Anwar and Tariq Mir.

MQM sources said the police informed the three men that "there is no need for any of you to attend the police station. The bail conditions currently in place are therefore removed."

The police notice stated that "at the time of writing there is insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge", according to the MQM statement. The police had been pursuing the money laundering case against Hussain after his arrest on June 3, 2014. 

The MQM chief, who has lived in and led the party from the UK since 1991, said he was "relieved".
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03:11   Kapu quota stir leader threatens hunger strike; man ends life
A day after politically influential Kapus unleashed violence in parts of Andhra Pradesh, the man leading the stir today threatened an indefinite fast from Friday for inclusion of the caste in the OBC category, while a person from the the community allegedly killed himself over the quota issue. 

Mudragada Padmanabham, the agitation leader, told reporters at his residence in Kirlampudi in East Godavari district after a meeting with community leaders that he and his wife would undertake an indefinite fast from Friday. Apprehending arrest by authorities, who might try to "disrupt" the agitation, the former Minister declared, "Nothing will deter me from going on fast and I am prepared to continue it even in jail." Kapus are a politically influential community, particularly in coastal districts.

Amid demand for reservation for Kapus, a man allegedly committed suicide in the East Godavari Collectorate building at district headquarters town of Kakinada demanding quotas for the community and special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Forty-five-year-old C H V Murthy hung himself from a dish antenna at Bennet Club in the Collectorate.

"A letter was found in his pocket which said he is ending his life for non-inclusion of Kapu community in Backward Classes list, as also Central government not according special category status to Andhra Pradesh", Police Inspector (Special Branch), Kakinada, V Srinivas, told PTI by telephone.
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01:50   Kapu quota stir leader threatens hunger strike; man ends life
A day after politically influential Kapus unleashed violence in parts of Andhra Pradesh, the man leading the stir today threatened an indefinite fast from Friday for inclusion of the caste in the OBC category, while a person from the the community allegedly killed himself over the quota issue. 

Mudragada Padmanabham, the agitation leader, told reporters at his residence in Kirlampudi in East Godavari district after a meeting with community leaders that he and his wife would undertake an indefinite fast from Friday. Apprehending arrest by authorities, who might try to "disrupt" the agitation, the former Minister declared, "Nothing will deter me from going on fast and I am prepared to continue it even in jail." Kapus are a politically influential community, particularly in coastal districts.

Amid demand for reservation for Kapus, a man allegedly committed suicide in the East Godavari Collectorate building at district headquarters town of Kakinada demanding quotas for the community and special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Forty-five-year-old C H V Murthy hung himself from a dish antenna at Bennet Club in the Collectorate.

"A letter was found in his pocket which said he is ending his life for non-inclusion of Kapu community in Backward Classes list, as also Central government not according special category status to Andhra Pradesh", Police Inspector (Special Branch), Kakinada, V Srinivas, told PTI by telephone.
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01:47   Arrested TMC leader remanded to police custody
Trinamool Congress leader Naren Chakraborty, arrested for trying to board a Chennai-bound flight with an unlicensed gun, was today remanded to a day's police custody by a court in Barrackpore near. 

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Barrackpore Mayukh Mukherjee remanded Chakraborty to police custody after he was produced in the court today amid tight security. 

Chakraborty, a member of the Durgapur Zilla Parishad and Pandabeshwar Block Trinamool Congress president, was initially detained by Central Industrial Security Force and later on arrested by the police for trying to board a Chennai-bound flight with an unlicensed gun and cartridges from the NSCB International Airport, yesterday.
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01:13   Peter, Indrani were unhappy about Sheena-Rahul relation: CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday told a special court in Mumbai that Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, and her husband former media baron Peter Mukerjea were unhappy with the relationship between her daughter Sheena and Peter's son Rahul.

"Both Peter and Indrani were unhappy with the relationship between Rahul and Sheena," Additional Solicitor General of India Anil Singh told the special CBI judge H S Mahajan, while opposing Peter's bail application.

Sheena, Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, and Rahul, Peter's son from his earlier marriage, were in a relationship and at one point in time, they used to stay together in a rented flat in Mumbai. 
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00:57   The broadcaster who shot herself on air
In 1974 a newsreader named Christine Chubbuck committed suicide on live TV. Her story has been largely forgotten, but two new films try to unravel why she did it.

Read this story HERE
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00:43   Donald Trump's moment of truth
The brash real estate mogul has touted his business record and wealth, defied political correctness, commanded social media, insulted Mexicans, Muslims and his rivals, and refused to apologise for anything.

And through the long preamble to the election season, Trump has dominated the Republican race at every turn.Monday night's Iowa caucuses will offer the first real test of his ability to transform all the attention surrounding his candidacy into lasting electoral success.

Polls suggest that Trump, who has never stood for any political office before, stands on the verge of a potentially stunning victory that would shake the Republican establishment. He implored his supporters on Monday to make sure they show up to the caucuses.
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00:25   WHO declares Zika a global health emergency
Zika, a virus that barely bothered humans until last year, has been moving. First, it made its way from Africa to a series of tiny islands in Micronesia. Then it bounced through the Pacific Ocean to Easter Island, off the coast of Chile. 

From there, it was on to Brazil. Now Zika has infected people in more than 20 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean.The mosquito-borne virus doesn't seem to harm most of its victims. 

But there's increasing evidence that it can cause serious damage to the brains of fetuses and, in rare instances, devastating neurological problems in adults.

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