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Mon, 08 February 2016
Building collapses inside Hubli railway station; four dead

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22:50   Man arrested for draping pet dog in national flag
A Surat-based property dealer was today arrested for allegedly insulting the national flag by draping his dog in the tricolour at a public event held on Republic Day, police said.

Bharat Gohil, 40, was arrested on a complaint by Aziz Cyclewala but was released on bail later in the day, said inspector G A Sarvaiya of Umra police station.

Gohil had taken his canine to participate in the 'Pet Run' organised on January 26 near Kargil Chowk area of the city. Atthe event, he came with his dog draped in the tricolor, the inspector said.

Preliminary inquiry officer in the case Dala Katarasaid Cyclewala, who was also present during the event, had filed a complaint with the police, which found the action offensive.

The complaint was lodged yesterday after the photos of Gohil with his canine draped in the tricolour went viral on social media.

"We arrested Gohil under relevant sections of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. He was released on bail today itself," said Sarvaiya.

Gohil pleaded with the police that he was not aware of the law and not intentionally, the PIO said.
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22:06   India resumes fuel supply to Nepal via Raxaul border
India today resumed fuel supplies to Nepal through its Raxaul border after agitating Madhesis called off their nearly five-month-long blockade that caused acute shortage of petroleum products in the landlocked nation.

Indian Oil Corporation's Raxaul depot resumed supplies after the obstruction by protesters was removed from the main 'Maitreyi' (Friendship) Bridge connecting the two countries.

The depot loaded 300,000 litres of petroleum products into Nepal Oil Corporation tankers and sent them to Nepal, the Himalayan Times quoted chief of Birgunj-based Regional Office of the state-run firm Abhishek Thakur as saying.

In the wake of the agitation launched by the United Democratic Madhesi Front, the IOC had been rerouting the supply of petroleum products through other border points.

As the demonstrations eased at the transit route from Friday, NOC appealed to IOC for uninterrupted supply of oil through the Raxaul border.

NOC spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire said IOC has agreed to provide oil through the border. NOC has instructed fuel tankers that ply on the Raxaul-Kathmandu route to transport fuel through the route.

Of the total fuel consumption in Nepal, 70 per cent fuel is supplied through this transit route. As per IOC's commitment, the fuel will be supplied as in the period before the blockade, local media reported.

Customs Department Director General Shishir Kumar Dhungana said 19 transit routes with India are now operational. The supply resumed as the Madhesis, who have strong family and cultural ties with Indians, called off their protests over the new Constitution today.
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21:35   PM to take stock of HRD ministry's functioning
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take stock of the functioning of the Human Resource Development ministry, especially in higher education sector, later this month.

While a range of issues relating to the path ahead for the higher education sector would be discussed, it is also understood that matters pertaining to Central Universities also come up.

The meeting comes a month after the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in the Hyderabad Central University triggered an uproar across the country and opposition parties attacked the government over it.

The HRD ministry has in recent times launched several ambitious initiatives in higher education sector including working towards a National Institutional Ranking Framework, a GIAN programme for attracting foreign faculty and is also working to set up six new IITs.
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21:00   Lalu dares Paswan to impose President's rule in Bihar
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Monday dared Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan to impose President's rule in Bihar following the latter's demand for the same.

"Kiski majal hain ki Bihar mein rashtrapati sashan laga dein? (Who has guts to impose President's rule in Bihar)," Lalu said, reacting to Paswan's statement that there was no option but to impose President's rule in the state in view of the 'return of jungle raj'.

Lalu also dared leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies to impose President's rule in Bihar.

Earlier, Paswan told reporters that law and order situation in Bihar is worse than the jungle raj of the 1990s.

"It is the return of the jungle raj or worse than situation that prevailed in the '90s," Paswan had said.

M I Khan from Patna
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20:53   Building collapses inside Hubli railway station; four dead
At least four people died after the parcel office building of the Hubli Junction Railway Station in Karnataka collapsed on Monday.

According to district commissioner, around nine people were trapped inside the building out of which two were rescued alive while four were found dead.

Three more people are still believed to be trapped inside the debris and the rescue operation is underway to get them out.

Meanwhile, an National Disaster Response Force team is also reported to be reaching the site.
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20:01   Tata Marcopolo Motors declares lockout at Dharwad plant
Tata Motors today said a lockout has been declared at the Dharwad plant of one of its subsidiaries, Tata Marcopolo Motors, following "illegal strike" by workmen over wage negotiations.

The company said "workmen resorted to an illegal strike, with mass absence on January 31, 2016, compelling the plant's management to resort to temporary suspension of operations on February 1 to ensure safety."

"In view of continued deterioration of the situation and in the absence of a congenial working atmosphere, with a continued threat to safety of people and equipment, the company declared a lock-out from February 6," a Tata Motors spokesperson said in an e-mailed response. 

The company accused workers of disruption and jeopardising its operations and reputation in spite of it "undertaking an upward wage revision every year, even in adverse market conditions."
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19:59   Headley: India may give Pak fresh evidence about ISI officers
India is likely to give Pakistan fresh evidence about the nvolvement of ISI officers in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack after Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley's deposition before a Mumbai court today.

India has given several dossiers to Pakistan incorporating evidence about the involvement of ISI officers, Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief Hafiz Saeed, LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi besides others.

"There have been no action against any one of them. Headley's deposition before court again established that serving ISI officers, Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi were deeply involved in the conspiracy. We will provide all these fresh evidence to Pakistan for action," a senior government official said.

India is also expected to ask the United States to take action against Hafiz Saeed against whom a $10 million reward was announced for information leading to his capture, following Headley's disclosure.
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19:15   Godman's necklace gift to Maha CM's wife makes rationalists see red
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta has come in for flak from rationalists after accepting a necklace, apparently produced from thin air by a godman. The incident occurred during an awards event organised by a Pune-based educational institute.

In visuals aired non-stop by Marathi channels, the godman, Guruvanand Swami, is shown giving Amruta, a banker, a necklace, which apparently materialises from thin air. Avinash Patil, president of the Committee for Eradication of Superstition in Maharashtra, said the chief minister should clarify his stand on the act of his wife.

"Fadnavis should issue a clarification on the incident. If needed, he should tender an apology," Patil said. "We are willing to offer a Rs 21 lakh prize to the godman if he is able to perform his 'miracle' in controlled conditions as specified by us scientifically," he said. Amruta today said she does not believe in miracles.

"I offered my salutations to him as respect to an elderly person. These are values I have been brought up with and these are the values I will continue to practice," she said. "Guruvanand Swami gave me a necklace as a blessing. I don't believe in miracles of any sort," she said.
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18:45   Schoolboy's death: Autopsy report does not indicate sexual assault, says Bassi
The postmortem report of the six-year-old boy, who was found dead in a water reservoir at Ryan International School in south Delhi, prima facie does not indicate any sexual assault, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said today.


"The postmortem report has been received and it is being studied. Suffice to say that it (the postmortem report) does not prima facie indicate any sexual assault," Bassi said.


"Initial reading of the postmortem report does not suggest any sexual assault. The death was due to drowning," Bassi said, adding the police will correlate the findings of the postmortem report with their investigation into the matter.


On January 30, Devansh Kakrora, a class 1 student at Ryan International School in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj, was found dead in a reservoir under the school's amphitheater, following which the principal of the school, a teacher and three non-teaching staff were arrested for negligence causing the boy's death. All of them had got bail the same day.


A day after the arrests, the police also sent notices to Ryan group's Chief Administrative Officer and northern zone head seeking information on charter of duty for the school authority and construction of the underground water tank.


After the incident, the child's father had alleged that the boy might have been sexually assaulted before this death. On Saturday, the Delhi Government had said the magisterial probe into the death of the student indicates a heinous crime and the investigation so far has ignored the observations of the child's parents.


Devansh's father met Bassi in the afternoon today and expressed his doubts over the investigation. He insisted on a CBI probe. Meanwhile, CCTV footage obtained from the school revealed that the boy was last spotted alive at the lobby around 12.15 pm on January 30 and around 1.20 PM he was seen being rushed the parking area by the school staff, who later put him inside a car, a senior police official said. He added that it was the hospital authorities who informed the police about the incident on 2.40 pm. 
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18:34   Rupee extends losses to 67.94, down 30 paise
Extending losses for the second straight day, the rupee today dropped by another 30 paise to close at 67.94 per dollar on persistent demand for the American currency from banks and importers on the back of higher greenback overseas.

A fresh fall in equity market also affected the market sentiment, a forex dealer said.

The domestic unit resumed lower at 67.85 per dollar as against the last weekend's level of 67.64 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market and dropped further to 67.96 before concluding at 67.94, disclosing a loss of 30 paise or 0.44 per cent. The rupee dropped by 39 paise or 0.58 per cent in two days.
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17:54   Rescue teams cutting through 30-ft of ice to recover bodies: MoD
Update on the body recovered from Siachen. Ministry of Defence spokesperson SD Goswami said that after intense and exhausting search operations, which has entered its sixth day, rescue parties have hit the Camp Site and recovered the mortal remains of one Martyr.                    

A new camp has been established at the location to coordinate the rescue efforts as well as to continue vigil in the sensitive area. Rescue teams are cutting through upto thirty feet of ice at multiple locations where our soldiers could be buried.

Probable locations are identified by using specialised equipment which was inducted along with the rescue teams. 

Reports from the ground indicate the efforts are hampered by frequent snow blizzards, extreme freezing temperatures and low visibility apart from the effects of rarefied atmosphere in such high altitude. 

The teams are working round the clock and observing all precautions since the unstable ice and snow in the region could trigger fresh avalanches. Rescue efforts will continue till all our soldiers are found.
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17:47   Siachen avalance: Body of army man found after five days
Just in: A body has been found in Siachen by rescue teams searching for 10 soldiers buried after an avalanche last week. One Junior Commissioned Officer and nine soldiers were killed on February 3 when large blocks of ice fell on their camp in the northern side of the glacier.

Efforts to locate the bodies of 10 soldiers buried in the Siachen glacier, after an avalanche, has been on, but rough weather impeded success. The Army on Friday released the names of the deceased soldiers of Madras Regiment.

The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, has ordered deployment of additional resources, including radars, to reinforce rescue efforts. The massive rescue operations continue at the height of approximately 20,000 feet, a senior Army officer said.


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16:54   Holiday vouchers, sex toys, armpit mops in Oscar goody bag
There will be winners, there will be losers on the the evening of February 28, when the Oscars are announced. But every single person nominated for an award will come away with a gift hamper worth USD 200,000.

Inside is a holiday voucher to Israel worth USD 55,000, a one-year supply of Audi A4 Rentals worth USD 45,000, a USD 250 sex toy for women, personalized M&M's priced at USD 300, and a box of armpit mops to reduce sweat marks for stars on the red carpet.

While the bag isn't officially endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, losing nominees have been scoring the gift haul for years, reported the Wrap. The gifts in this year's bag range from USD 55,000 to USD 11.


Other items in the bag may include Haze Dual V3 Vaporizer, Explore Israel (USD 55,000), Walk Japan (USD 54,000), Lizora products worth USD 31,200, Healing Saint by Dr Jane 360, gifts from Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria and Grand Hotel Tremezzo and vampire breast lift worth USD 1900.

The bag is "once again a blend of fabulous, fun and functional items meant to thrill and pamper those who may have everything money can buy but still savour the simple joy of a gift," the press release stated.

Last year's bag featured USD 125,000 worth of items, including a luxury train ride through the Canadian rockies for USD 14,500 and a Reset Yourself lifestyle makeover package for USD 14,200.

The 88th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
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16:31  
The full text of what the Trai said today on net neutrality. Read
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16:10   Trai backs net neutrality, says no to discriminatory pricing
India's telecom watchdog, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), has released the final guidelines on differential pricing as it rejected operators' offer to discuss net neutrality or differential pricing.

Backing net neutrality, Trai said no provider should charge discriminatory tariffs for data based on content.  Trai to levy Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh a day penalty for discriminatory tariffs charged by service providers. Trai may review these regulations after a period of two years. Regulations will come into effect immediately.
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15:54   Bomb threat in Cuddalore school
Fifteen schools in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu closed following a bomb threat call to one school. Police says it was a hoax call and asked parents not to panic.
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15:20   26/11 Mumbai attacks: 35 questions David Headley answered today
David Coleman Headley, convicted in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, today began his first deposition before a Mumbai court through video conference. Headley was questioned by Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

First round of questioning:

Ujjwal Nikam: Who were your colleagues?
Headley: I was dealing with Sajid Mir directly.

Q: Anyone else?
A: Sajid Mir was my main contact of LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba). I met others too. Mir has asked me to change my name from Daood Gilani to David Headley.

Q: What was Mir's reaction?
A: He approved of it. He was pleased.
Then Headley was shown Sajid Mir's photo which he identifies.

Q. Can you recognise his voice?
A: Yes.

Q: chal.chalao@yahoo.com is whose email id?
A: Sajid Mir.

Q: Is Sajid Mir also known as Wasi?
A: Yes.

Q: When did you visit Pakistan?
A: Immediately after Feb 15, 2006.

Q: What task was entrusted to you by Sajid Mir?
A: He wanted me to go to India to set up an office and a business so that I could stay there. He gave me instructions to make general videos of Mumbai.

Q: You asked him the purpose?
A: No, I didn't.

Q: You didn't ask because you were a true follower of LeT?
A: Yes, I didn't ask. I had a general idea already.

Q: How many times did you visit Mumbai with the new passport? Eight times?
A: Yes, that's correct.

Q: Seven times you arrived in Mumbai before attacks?
A: Yes

Q: From which country?
A: Most of the times I came from Pakistan, sometimes from UAE. Seven times from Pakistan, once from Abu Dhabi and Dubai in UAE.

Q: How many times after 26/11 did you come?
A: Once from Lahore. I gave incorrect information for visa to consulate general of India in Chicago to protect my cover. Everything about me was incorrect expect DoB, PoB, mothers nationality.

Q: How many attempts were made by LeT before 26/11?
A: Sajid had told me that two attempts were made before 26/ 11. September 8, 2008, was the first attempt but the boat hit a rock and the second was in October with the same set of people.
 
Q:  Do you know Raymond Sanders? Can you identify his signatures? Is he the attorney at law at immigration law centre in Chicago?
A: Yes.

Q: To whom did he write letter for your visa?
A: Consul General of India, Chicago.

Q: On  whose instructions?
A: I had asked my friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana who was working with him.

Q: What did Sanders write in the letter?
H: To enable me to get visa for 5 years.
*The letter is shown to him*

Q: Are the contents of this letter true?
A: Yes , I applied for multiple entry business visa.

Q: How do you know Rana and since when?
A: We studied together for five years in school. After school, Rana became a doctor in the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi.

Q: Did Rana know the purpose of your visit to India?
A: No, he didn't. He didn't come to know till the end. After attack, yes, but he didn't know the details.

Q: Why did you apply for a business visa?
A: So that I didn't have to apply again and again.

Q: Why did you establish an office in Mumbai?
A: So that I could come to India and my real identity would not be disclosed. I cooked up a story that I am an immigration consultant.

Q : Who gave you the advice to come?
A: I discussed it with Sajid Mir.

Q: Did you discuss this with anyone from the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan)?
A: Yes, with Major Iqbal from ISI.

Q: Do you know Major Iqbal? Where was he serving?
A: I met him in Lahore but I don't where was he serving.

Q: Who introduced you to him?
A: Mr. Ali.

Q: In Pakistan, how many times did you meet Mr. Ali?
A: I was arrested in Landi Kotal near the Afghan border. He came to interrogate me. I was discharged because he intervened.

Q: How were you discharged by Ali?
A: Because I was charged to be a foreigner but had Pakistani ID card.

Q: Why did Mr Ali introduce you to Major Iqbal?
A: Because he thought I could be of assistance for intelligence work in India. Iqbal was working for ISI in Landi Kotal.

Q: Who was with you when you were arrested in Pakistan?
A: Abdul Rehman Pasha, a retired Major from the Pak army.

Q: Were you and Pasha to meet the drug smuggler?
A: Yes, because the smuggler could have helped us smuggle weapons into India.

Q: Who was this smuggler?
A: Zaid Shah.
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15:00   Noted Urdu poet Nida Fazli passes away
Noted Urdu poet Nida Fazli passed away today. He was 76. Fazli suffered a heart attack.

He became known among readers and ghazal singers for his elegant presentation and exclusive use of the colloquial for ghazals, dohaas and nazms, while avoiding ornate Persian imagery and compound words.

Some of his famous film songs include Aa bhi jaa (Sur), Tu is tarah se meri zindagi mein (Aap To Aise Na The) and Hosh waalon ko khabar Kya (Sarfarosh).

He wrote columns for BBC Hindi website on various contemporary issues and literature.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee condoled his death, tweeting, "Saddened on the passing of noted Urdu poet,lyricist and Sahitya Akademi awardee Nida Fazli #RIP."
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14:11   Emran Hashmi's first look in and as Azharuddin
Emraan Hashmi who will be playing Mohammad Azharuddin in his upcoming biopic, Azhar, has a surprise for the former cricketer on his birthday today. The actor decided to release an his look from the film based on a picture of Azhar from his early days when he debuted as a test cricketer. This was Hashmi's way of thanking Azhar for mentoring him during the film.

The film is scheduled to release on May 13.

If you ask us, the similarity between the two images ends with the jersey.
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13:15   'Kahaani 2' in pre-production stage, to star Vidya: Sujoy Ghosh
Director Sujoy Ghosh has confirmed that he is reuniting with Vidya Balan for the sequel of his 2012 mystery "Kahaani" and is currently busy with its pre-production work. Sujoy said the film will go on floors soon and will be majorly shot in the city.


"Yes 'Kahaani 2' is happening. It is in pre-production stage. Vidya Balan will star in the film. Major parts of the film will be shot in Kolkata," the director told PTI.


Sujoy has produced Vidya's upcoming film "T3EN" directed by Ribhu Dasgupta. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.


During a discussion on 'Byomkesh Through The Ages' at the 40th International Kolkata Book Fair last night, the director, said he personally liked Byomkesh Bakshi but was not sure if it would be fit enough for today's pan-Indian film goers.


"I still like Byomkesh novels at a personal level but I am not much sure from the director's point of view. I am not sure if it will be liked by the film audiences of today," said Sujoy, who essayed the role of fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi in "Satyanweshi".
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12:55  
JuD chief Hafeez Muhamad Saeed reacts to Headley's deposition with this tweet: "Reading Novel "26/11 - RSS ki Sazish" which proves JuD & ISI has nothing to do with 26/11 Attack!
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12:53   Headley made two unsuccessful attempts before 26/11: Lawyer
Speaking to reporters, Headley's lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani said, "He (Headley) has confirmed that he joined LeT after being influenced by Hafeez Saeed. He told the court that two unsuccessful attempts to carry out terror attacks were also made before 26/11. He has not explained the role of LeT in attacks".


The court is currently trying key plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who is facing trial for his alleged role in the terror attacks, which held the city to ransom for three days.


The deposition of Headley, assumes significance as it may unravel the conspiracy behind the brazen terror strike, which left 166 people dead.


The court had on December 10, 2015, made Headley an approver in the case and directed him to depose before the court on February 8. He had then told Special Judge GA Sanap that he was "ready to depose" if granted pardon. Judge Sanap had then made Headley an approver, subject to certain conditions and granted him pardon.


Last year, the Mumbai Police had on October 8 moved an application before the court saying that Headley deserves to be tried by this (Mumbai) court together with 26/11 key plotter Abu Jundal in the case as both of them are conspirators and abettors behind the dastardly act. In the application, the Mumbai Police said that from the judgement passed by the US court against Headley, it was clear that he was a member of LeT and he had played an active role in the criminal conspiracy in the terror attack.


The application also said that Headley had entered into a plea agreement with US in 2010 and thereby willingly and voluntarily agreed that he had conspired. It is evident, the police had said, that Headley has committed the offences of conspiring with LeT for committing illegal acts in India; waging war against the government of India and offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.


He has also been accused of intentionally aiding and abetting the LeT in Pakistan for committing illegal acts in Mumbai, mischief by fire with intent to destroy Hotel Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House, offences under Explosives Act and Explosives Substances Act as also under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.


"This is for the first time in the Indian legal history that a 'foreign terrorist' will appear before an Indian court and testify," Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had said yesterday
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12:20   I worked with ISI to attack India: Headley
David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba operative deposed before a Mumbai court today through video conference and has been singing, but  where he is expected to spill the beans on the chief perpetrators of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks.

What has Headley told the Mumbai court:

-- I was a true follower of LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba).

-- After I changed my name, I disclosed this information to my colleague Sajid Mir of LeT. I changed my name so that I could enter India. I wanted to enter India with an American name. I visited Pakistan within a few weeks of changing my name.

-- Sajid Mir (LeT) specified the object of his intention before my first visit to India. Mir wanted me to set up some business or office in India. After receiving my new passport I visited India 8 times. Out of 8 times, I visited Mumbai 7 times.

-- Sajid Mir (LeT) asked me to take general video of Mumbai city. Seven of my visits to India were directly from Pakistan and one was from UAE. After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, I visited India on March 7, 2009, from Lahore to Delhi.

-- All details except the place of birth, date of birth, mother's nationality & passport number,were incorrect in my visa application.

-- 2 attempts were made to attack Mumbai prior to 26/11. The first attempt was made in September 2008 but the boat hit some rocks in the ocean, weapons and explosives lost but those on board survived. The second attempt to attack Mumbai made in October 2008, those involved in the first attempt were involved in this as well, but the attack failed. The third and final attack on Mumbai was successful (26/11).

-- I and retired major Abdur Rehman Pasha were arrested in Landi Kotal near the Pak-Afghan border because I looked like a foreigner. During my arrest, Major Ali came to interrogate me and I had some Indian literature in my possession.

-- During my interrogation, I gave information to Major Ali that I'm holding a business office in India. Major Ali thought that I would be beneficial for gathering intelligence from India. Major Ali introduced me to Major Iqbal of Pakistan's ISI.

-- Headley said that he did it (26/11) on direction of Hafiz Sayeed. He also said that two attempts were made before 26/11 which failed.
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11:56   Where competing interests converge for US, China
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace brought out a paper recently on the United States' policy options toward the Central Asian region in the period ahead following the drawdown of American troops in Afghanistan. Three pundits rooted in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie co-authored the paper and what distinguishes them is also their long stints in the US state department and National Security Council, and/or the intelligence community. Read more
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11:52   Make in India and hate in India cannot go together: Tharoor
Taking a jibe at the Modi government, former minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said policies like 'Make in India' and hatred cannot go together as he asserted that "outrageous" statements against minorities by ruling party members only undermine the country's soft power.

To attract foreign direct investment, which is key to the construction and modernisation of the infrastructure sector and manufacturing, the Congress MP stressed on the need to maintain the pluralistic character of the country.

Before India tries to leverage its soft power to increase its standing in the world, Tharoor said first there is need to fix the problem at the domestic front.

"For us to be credible as a nation that enjoys and wields soft power, we have to fix our domestic problems first. The truth is that we have to do enough to keep our people, healthy, well and secure not just from jihadi terrorism. Progress is being made but not enough to reach everyone," Tharoor said in his keynote address to the Harvard University's annual Indian convention 2016.

"If on one hand, we go around saying Make in India, Startup India and Digital India and want to attract foreign investors, we can't do so if we are condoning hatred in India at the same time," Tharoor said in reference to the flagship schemes launched by the Narendra Modi-led government.

"It is not good when people in the ruling party make outrageous statements against minorities. These are not good because they undermine the soft power of India," Tharoor told the students in the packed Harvard Business School auditorium. Tharoor asserted that in order to maintain India's soft power, the larger idea of India needs to be sustained. "An India that celebrates the common space of every identity, it would be a secure to be a Muslim, secure to be a kayastha... whatever you define yourself. Because all of those identities are made secure under the Indian identity," he said. '

Tharoor said if India wants to remain a source of attraction for the world, it must preserve the "precious pluralism like a civilizational asset" "It is not so good when women are assaulted on the streets of Delhi. It is not good when some people begin to fear that it is safer to be a cow than to be a Muslim in India today," Tharoor said.
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11:19   Was inspired by Hafeez Saeed's speech to join LeT, Headley tells court
Pakistani-American LeT operative David Headley today deposed before a court in Mumbai via video-link after being made an approver in the 26/11 case and said he came to India seven times before the 2008 terror attacks and that his main contact in LeT was Sajid Mir, also an accused in the case. Highlights from the deposition...


-- Sajid Mir (LeT Operative) was using the email ID chalchalo@yahoo.com to communicate.

-- I and retired major Abdur Rehman Pasha were arrested in Landi Kotal near Pak-Afghan border because I looked like a foreigner. During interrogation I gave information to Major Ali that I'm holding a business office in India. Major Ali thought that I will be beneficial for gathering intelligence from India.

-- Two 26/11-type attempts failed, third one hit Mumbai.

-- Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal were happy to see my Indian visa. Mir was guiding me on getting a visa. Major Ali introduced me to Major Iqbal of Pakistan ISI.

-- Dr Tahawwur Hussain Rana helped me to get Indian visa. I met him in a military school in Punjab province. Dr. Rana was my schoolmate for five years.

-- After school, Rana became a doctor in the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi. Rana helped me to get Indian visa. I met him in a military school in Punjab province.

--  David Headley names Pakistan terrorist Hafiz Saeed in Mumbai court for 26/11 attack.

-- Was inspired by JuD chief Hafeez Saeed.
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11:04   Visited India 7 times before 26/11 attack, Headley tells court
Pakistani-American LeT operative David Headley today deposed before a court here via video-link after being made an approver in the 26/11 case and said he came to India seven times before the 2008 terror attacks and that his main contact in LeT was Sajid Mir, also an accused in the case.

This is the first time that Headley deposed before the court. In his deposition through video-conference, which began at 7 am, Headley said that he was a "true follower of LeT" and came to India eight times -- seven before the terror attack on November 26, 2008 and once after that. Headley, who is currently serving 35 years prison sentence in the US for his role in the terror attacks, also said he changed his name from Dawood Gilani to David Headley in 2006 so that he could enter India and set up some business.

"I applied for change in name on February 5, 2006 in Philadelphia. I changed my name to David Headley to get a new passport under that name. I wanted a new passport so that I could enter India with an American identity.

"After I got a new passport I disclosed it to my colleagues in LeT of which one of them was Sajid Mir, the person with whom I was dealing with. The objective for coming to India was to set up an office/business so that I can live in India. Before the first visit, Sajid Mir gave me instructions to make a general video of Mumbai," Headley told the court.

Headley also said that in his Indian visa application he had furnished all "wrong" information "to protect his cover". He reportedly visited India many times between 2006 and 2008, drew maps, took video footage and scouted several targets for the attacks including the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House.

His reconnaissance provided vital information for the 10 LeT terrorists and their handlers, who launched the attack. The court is currently trying key plotter Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who is facing trial for his alleged role in the terror attacks, which held the city to ransom for three days. The deposition of Headley, assumes significance as it may unravel the conspiracy behind the brazen terror strike, which left 166 people dead.
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10:47   Delhi suffers as MCD strike enters 13th day
The sanitation workers strike of Municipal Corporations of Delhi entered 13th day on Monday over the non-payment of salary and allowances.
With garbage piling up in different areas, the strike is creating hardship to the people.

"We should get all our dues from 2003. The temporary workers should be made permanent. The Delhi government, had on October 23, 2015 said that the pending arrears would be cleared. But, it hasn't been cleared even now. The government is misleading us and somewhere we are becoming the victims of politics," said one of the protesters.

"If any Talibani diktat is announced or if even a single employee of the MCD is removed, then we would make this protest very aggressive and the government would then have to pay its price," he added.

On Saturday, Municipal Corporation Teachers Association called off their indefinite strike after they received their pending salaries. Along with the teachers, MCD doctors and para-medical staff have also ended their strike.
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10:24   Rescuers pull out 2 survivors from Taiwan quake rubble
Two people have been pulled alive from the ruins of an apartment building two days after it collapsed in a powerful earthquake in Tainan City in Taiwan.The first was a woman who was officials said was found lying underneath the body of her husband. Their two-year-old son was found dead nearby.Shortly later, a man was also rescued alive. At least 35 people died in the magnitude 6.4 quake, most of whom were inside the Weiguan Jinlong building.More than 100 people are still thought to be trapped inside.
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09:55   Pathankot attack: Pak finds no evidence of Jaish-e-Mohammed's involvement
A team constituted by Pakistan to investigate last month's deadly attack on the Pathankot airbase has concluded that there is no substantive evidence to suggest Maulana Masood Azhar, the head of the outlawed Jaish-e-Muhammad militant group, ordered or masterminded the assault.

Pakistani officials privy to the SIT investigations reveal that Pakistan has conveyed to New Delhi that there was no substantial evidence that could prove the involvement of Maulana Azhar in the Pathankot assault.

Last month, six gunmen attacked the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, leading to a three-day-long standoff that killed seven soldiers. India had claimed that the attackers belonged to the JeM and they had sneaked in from southern Punjab district of Bahawalpur.
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09:14   Was a true follower of Laskhar: Headley testifies before Mumbai court
David Coleman Headley - the Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist serving a 35-year jail sentence in the US for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai -- has begun deposing before a Mumbai court through video conference from an undisclosed location in the US. 

Deposing before the court, Headley said that he was a true follower of the terror group, Lashkar, and had even falsified information on his visa application to gain entry into India. 

He said, "I changed my name so that I could enter India. I wanted to enter India with an American name. I then disclosed this information to my colleague Sajid Mir of LeT." 
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09:04   Indians taken hostage by Islamic State in Mosul are alive: Sushma Swaraj
The 39 Indians taken hostage by Islamic State more than one-and-a-half-years ago from Mosul in Iraq were alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told their families, based on her recent meetings with Arab and Palestinian leaders who indicated to this effect. 

Swaraj, who had sought a meeting with the families which is the ninth since the abduction of these Indians in June 2014, also assured them that the government was "fully and continuously engaged" and "every possible effort" was being made to ensure their release.

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08:43   2 dead, 1 injured in Telangana fire
Two people have died and 1 is injured after a major fire broke out at a pharmaceutical company's factory in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana. 

More details are awaited. 
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08:25   NIA unsure if 4 or 6 terrorists were killed at Pathankot base
Investigators have raised serious doubts about the number of terrorists involved in last month's deadly attack on Punjab's Pathankot air force station.

The National Security Guard, which led the counter-terror operation maintains it killed six militants. "After neutralising four terrorists, the second 'encounter' with 'two more terrorists' took place on the ground floor of a two-storey building at the airbase. Since the building was demolished, we could find only ashes which may have pieces of flesh from the bodies of the dead terrorists. The ashes have been sent for forensic analysis to look for human DNA," said a senior home ministry official requesting anonymity.

"But the question is why not even a single shred of cloth worn by the terrorists was found in the ashes? When the bodies of terrorists would have fallen, at least the pieces of clothes on the underside should have survived. During the mopping up operation, shreds of heavy bedclothes were found, but there were no fragments of garments like the military dresses that the other four terrorists were wearing." 

Investigators are now waiting for the results of the forensic analysis that may finally set the issue to rest.
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08:13  
Flight services affected at Delhi airport due to dense fog, visibility below 75 metres. 
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07:54   26/11 trial: Headley begins first deposition before Mumbai court
For the first time, Pakistani American Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley begins his deposition before a Mumbai court in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The special court will record Headley's statement via video conferencing. 

Headley had agreed to turn approver in the case on December 10, 2015 following which the court granted him conditional pardon. He was asked to depose before the court on February 8.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam also added that Headley's evidence is important to unfold many facts behind the 26/11 attack. "This is the first time a foreign terrorist will give evidence in an Indian court. The statements recorded will give more information on the 26/11 case," he said.

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