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Tue, 05 January 2016
Loud blast rocks Kabul district with foreign embassies, govt buildings

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23:35   UN chief condemns Pathankot terror attack
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today condemned the terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot and encouraged leaders of India and Pakistan to build on recent high-level exchanges between the two nations to address all outstanding issues through dialogue. "... the secretary-general condemns the terrorist attack at the Pathankot air base in India.

He is aware that the prime ministers of India and Pakistan had a phone conversation today to discuss this issue," Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here today.

He added that the UN chief "encourages both countries to build on recent high-level exchanges to address all outstanding issues through dialogue." Dujarric had not commented on the terror attack in Pathankot when asked yesterday, saying that the operation there was still ongoing.

On the attack on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-i-Sharif, Dujarric had said that "obviously, it is an attack we condemn. Especially in light of what we've said, an attack on a diplomatic outpost '" that needs to be protected."
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23:14   Loud blast rocks Kabul district with foreign embassies, govt buildings
Reuters is reporting that a loud explosion rocked Kabul on Tuesday in an area of the Afghan capital close to foreign embassies.

There was no information on any damage or casualties and the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear but Kabul has seen a series of suicide bombing attacks over the past week.
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22:43   "Little doubt" that Pathankot terrorists are from Pakistan:NIA
The NIA today said there is "little doubt" that the terrorists who attacked the IAF base at Pathankot were from Pakistan and it will be seeking voice sample of the mother of one of the gunmen who had spoken to her hours before the strike.

The anti-terror probe agency's chief Sharad Kumar said help of Pakistan will be sought in solving the Pathankot terror attack case in which seven security personnel were killed. Six terrorists were eliminated during the encounter with the security forces.      Kumar, who will be flying tomorrow to the IAF base at Pathankot for an on-the-spot assessment, said  the NIA will be seeking voice sample of the woman whose son was part of the terror group. The gunman is reported to have told his mother that he is going on a suicide mission and that he will be a martyr.

Asked about the nationality of the terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, Kumar said there is "little doubt" that the attackers were from Pakistan, adding "whatever evidence that is available in front of us till now is based on intercepted telephone calls between the terrorists and their handlers and family members across the border".
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20:38   Pak to sell 8 fighter jets to Lanka, inks 8 agreements
Pakistan today sealed a landmark deal to sell JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Sri Lanka as the two countries signed eight agreements to boost cooperation in areas like trade promotion, and science and technology besides combating money laundering and terror financing.
On the second day of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Colombo, Pakistan agreed to sell eight aircraft to Sri Lanka, in the first successful deal to sell the jets which Pakistan has been trying to sell for some time.
JF-17 Thunder is already part of Pakistan Air Force and has been successfully used to strike terrorist hideouts in northwestern tribal region.
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20:23   DDCA: AAP firm on stand against Jaitley
Aam Aadmi Party today said it was "firm" on its stand that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was "involved in corruption" in DDCA and said it would explain its position in court.

The party's reactions came hours after Jaitley stated that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders have made "false and defamatory" statements and rejected the charge that he had siphoned off money from Delhi's cricket body DDCA for his own benefit.
AAP had alleged financial irregularities in the DDCA following which Jaitely had sued Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas, Raghav Chadha and Deepak Bajpai for defamation.
"He was involved in corruption in the DDCA and we are firm on what we have said. We will put forth and explain our stand in the court," AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.
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20:20   Memorial to be built for slain Commando Gursewak: Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today met the family of Garud Commando Gursewak Singh who was killed in Pathankot terror attack, promising a job to one member and a memorial for the slain soldier at his native Garnala village in Ambala district.
Besides, an institute, road or park would be named after him so that his supreme sacrifice is remembered, Khattar told reporters at Garnala after paying tributes to the martyr. 

He said that a family member of the martyr would also be provided government job according to the requirement or qualification. The chief minister's eyes filled with tears as he consoled the martyr's father Sucha Singh, grandfather Charan Singh, mother Amreek Kaur, wife Jaspreet Kaur and elder brother Hardeep Singh.
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19:46   Bomb scare in Parliament premises
Security agencies went into a tizzy after the police control room received a call about a bomb at the Parliament premises this evening.
Several police teams, along with bomb disposal squads, were rushed near Parliament and it was at 6.12 PM that the fire department was alerted, following which fire tenders were rushed there too, said police and fire officials. 

Police said it appeared to be a hoax call. 

"It was not a mock drill. Somebody made the call and we are verifying it. Investigation is on," said DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal.
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19:36   Difficult to seal off vulnerable points along IB: Amarinder
Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today defended the state police for "any lapses" in the Pathankot terror attack, saying it was difficult to completely seal off vulnerable points along the international border.
"It is not proper to put blame on the Punjab Police for any lapse as they had already sounded the alert in relevant quarters after learning about the infiltration by the militants," he said.
The Congress leader was reacting to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statements today that "some gaps" had led to the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday in which all the six infiltrators, who used some "Pakistan- made" equipment, were killed.
Amarinder maintained that there were certain vulnerable points along the international border which would be difficult to seal completely.
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19:08   Gurdaspur SP's actions murky, to be questioned: NIA chief
After the NIA took over the probe into the terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base today, NIA DG Sharad Kumar called Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh's actions murky.

Salwinder Singh has been constantly changing his statement on how he came in contact with the terrorists who attacked the Air Force base and what happened when he was with them.

Sharad Kumar has said that at present Singh is being looked at as an eyewitness by the agency, but the NIA does not rule out taking action against him depending on what emerges after questioning.

A team of NIA officials is likely to question Salwinder Singh very soon.
The agency has filed a separate FIR against the terrorists for abducting the SP and slitting the throat of one person.

On Monday, NIA sleuths interrogated Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh and his cook, who were abducted last Thursday by the terrorists who went on to attack the air base the following day.

According to media reports, the blue beacon atop Salwinder Singh's Mahindra XUV helped the terrorists get past several police checkposts on Friday. It is suspected that the same lot of terrorists entered the Pathankot airbase because the SUV was found abandoned a little over 500 metres away.

Madan Gopal, Salwinder's cook who was in the officer's car while it was being commandeered by the terrorists, told journalists in Gurdaspur that he had been beaten by Punjab police even after telling them of the events of the night before the attack on the Pathankot airbase.

According to information gleaned from journalists in Gurdaspur, Gopal said he was returning with Salwinder and the officer's friend, Rajesh Verma, from a shrine. It was close to midnight when five men in military uniforms and carrying rifles stopped the vehicle near a village named Kuliyan. The men were standing by another car that seemed to have crashed. It later transpired that the driver of that car had been knifed to death.


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18:58   CBI takes over probe in journalist J Dey murder case
The Central Bureau of Investigation today took over journalist Jyotirmoy Dey's murder case from the Mumbai Police. An FIR has been registered by the CBI and investigations are to follow.

Gangster Chhota Rajan, who is the prime accused in the case, was allegedly upset with two articles written by Dey and therefore ordered his killing. Journalist Jigna Vora who is now out on bail, allegedly instigated Rajan, owing to her own professional rivalry with Dey.

Dey, a veteran crime reporter, was shot dead in Powai on June 11, 2011. The first charge sheet named the arrested accused Satiah Kaliya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani, Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia.
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18:45   Delhi on high alert till Republic Day over fears of JeM strike
Delhi will remain on high alert, sounded after the Pathankot attack, till the Republic Day as the Centre has asked the Delhi police to be prepared to foil any attempt by terrorists to carry out strikes in the city.

The directive has come after intelligence inputs suggested that there could be 6 to 10 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who had crossed over to India from Pakistan through Punjab in recent past. Sources said six suspected JeM terrorists were killed in the Pathankot air base after three days of fierce gun battle, but there is a possibility of a few remaining at large.

Besides, according to a Punjab Police input, there could 15 terrorists who have breached the International Border and had entered India from Pakistan.
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18:43   Advani still fit to be PM: Shatrughan
Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep tweets: @ShatruganSinha drops a bombshell. Tells @IndiaToday TV and @aajtak  LK Advani still fit to be PM; should be used better by BJP.
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18:17   Letter Rogatory to be sent to Pak with details of terrorists
India is expected to send to Pakistan Letter Rogatory (LR) along with DNA samples of slain terrorists who attacked Pathankot air base, their phone call details, numbers of handlers based in that country and other information to help nab the mastermind of the crime.

The DNA test of the six killed terrorists will be conducted as early as possible while the details of the phone calls made by the terrorists to their Pakistan-based handler are being prepared to be sent to Pakistan.

All these will be sent through an LR so that the Pakistani authorities could take forward the case in that country, official sources said today.

LR is a formal request from a court to a foreign court for some type of judicial assistance. The most common remedies sought by letters rogatory are service of process and taking of evidence.

Security agencies believe that through the call details, Pakistani authorities could reach the mother of one of the terrorists who had telephoned her saying he was on a suicide mission. The DNA samples would also help to establish that one of the terrorists was her son. Besides, the terrorists have made multiple calls to their handlers, believed to be based in Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab, which is headquarters of terror group Jaish-e- Mohammad. JeM is suspected to be behind the attack in Pathankot air base. Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif today gave an assurance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that "prompt and decisive action" will be taken against the terrorists behind the Pathankot attack after Modi pressed for immediate steps on "specific and actionable" information provided to them. Modi received a call this afternoon from Sharif regarding the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.
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17:52   Pathankot attack: I see some gaps, admits Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today admitted to "some gaps" that led to the terror attack on the Air Force base here in which all the six infiltrators, who used some "Pakistan- made" equipment, have been killed.

Addressing a news conference after a visit to the forward base, he said the terrorists were neutralised in an operation that lasted for more than 36 hours since 3.30 am on Saturday but combing operations are still on.

"There is no suspected terrorist inside right now. (still) I will not give a negative report till the combing operations are over. The combing operations may be over by tomorrow," he said in reply to questions.

Parrikar announced that all those seven security personnel killed during the attack will be treated as martyrs that will entitle them to all the benefits available to "battle casualty" like in war-like situation.

He said the terrorists were carrying 40-50 kgs of bullets, mortars, which were fired from modified Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher besides some magazines.

Replying to questions, he said "I see some gaps. But I do not think there is any compromise on security". Once the investigations are over, things will become clear, he said, adding every security detail cannot be discussed and keep something for investigation.

Parrikar said that he was worried as to how the terrorists had managed to come inside the base which has a perimeter of 24 kms and located in an area of about 2,000 acres.

Asked about the Pakistani connection, he said there are indications that some of these equipment are made in Pakistan. Parrikar said except the Garud commando, no one else was killed in direct operation.

"Five Defence Securiuty Corps personnel died because more of a bad luck. One of them Jagdish Chandra virtually grappled with the terrorist before killing him," he said hailing them as martyrs who made their supreme sacrifice.

Calling the counter-terror operation as "very difficult", Parrikar said that all assets--strategic and buildings--and the families, were secured. The only building that was damaged is the one in which the terrorists were holed up, he said.

He complimented the joint efforts of Army, Air Force, and the National Security Guards (NSG) and said that they should undertake joint training in future.

Brushing aside criticism over opting for NSG for the main role rather than the Special Forces of the Army, he said "50 per cent of the NSG is made up of the Army only. All assets were provided by the Army and they worked together smoothly".

The Minister said the initial focus was to secure all the assets at the base where 3,000 families were staying besides the foreign trainees from five to six countries.

Asked about the failure of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in stopping the infiltration from Pakistan, Parrikar referred to media reports which said that "the BSF has already been asked to give details of areas from where terrorists could have entered".

He said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the case and it will not be proper for him to divulge details as it was the matter of ongoing investigation. Parrikar said a security audit of all defence installations is being carried out. According to the details given by him, the encounter started at 3:30 am on Saturday and the last contact with the terrorists was made at about 7:30 pm on Sunday.

Parrikar said the operations after that was for combing purpose as there were a lot of live bombs and hence there was delay in retrieving the body. He added that the body of the sixth terrorist was yet to be retrieved as agencies apprehend it could be a booby-trap. "I have said there is no need to rush," he said adding that the forces should take its time to avoid any more casualty. "We cannot take a risk. We have already lost one personnel in a booby trap. We should not lose any more," the minister said.
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17:43   Punjab police FIR names Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pathankot attack
Yet another twist in the tale. The Punjab police FIR says the terrorists were from Jaish-e-Mohammed, the terror group founded by Moulana Masood Azhar (pictured). The JeM had executed the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. The JeM has purportedly been banned in Pakistan, but continues to operate several facilities in the country. The ISI-backed organisation was formed by Azhar after he was released in a terrorist-for-hostage swap during the IC-814 hijacking in 1999.
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17:13   Take firm, IMMEDIATE action, Modi tells Pak PM on Pathankot attack
PM Modi tells Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif that the Pakistan government should take firm and immediate action against groups and individuals responsible for the Pathankot terrorist attack.


The Pakistan PM called PM Modi at 3:45 pm and condemned the attack on the airbase in Pathankot. Sharif instructed NSA Nasser Janjua and foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz to coordinate with India and act on India's demands. Sharif told Modi he is upset with this attack and requested the PM to continue on the road map to peace they had decided on.


The Indian government has told Pakistan that the ball is now in Pakistan's court to take action against terrorists. Still no final decision on whether Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet next week.    
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16:45  
Ghulam Ali and his son to perform in Kolkata on January 12 at Park Circus Maidan, says TMC spokesperson Derek O' Brien.

The eminent ghazal singer's concerts in October last year were cancelled after protests by the Shiv Sena.
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16:35   'Upset' over Pathankot attack, Nawaz Sharif calls PM Modi promising help
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif calls PM Modi and condemned the attack on the airbase in Pathankot. Sharif instructed NSA Nasser Janjua and foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz to coordinate with India and act on India's demands. Sharif told Modi he is upset with this attack and requested the PM to continue on the road map to peace they had decided on.


Meanwhile, Defence minister Manohar Parrikar holds a press conference in Pathankot. Parrikar who reached the airforce base in Pathankot this afternoon was briefed about the combing ops which are on now. Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha were accompanying the minister. The top military brass will also meet the families of martyrs.

Parrikar said he visited the spot where the encounter took place and said he saluted the bravery of the armed forces.

He said six terrorists have been neutralised, but combing operations are still on and are likely to end tomorrow. DNA tests will be conducted on the bodies of the terrorists. One terrorist still has a grenade strapped to his body. "I've ordered it be destroyed where he's lying, we've lost one life due to a booby trap," Parrikar said. "All strategic assets of the airforce base are safe. I see some gaps (security related) that will be cleared after the investigation," he said.

Combing ops are on for more than 80 hours now.

Just ahead of the defence minister's presser there has been a controlled explosion from a recovered explosive material. A loud explosion was heard from inside Pathankot air base.

All those who were martyred and inhjured in the Pathankot ops will be treated as battle casualties so that their families receive all the benefits that go to martyrs in battle..

Combing and search operations will continue till "we are able to fully render the base safe", National Security Guard IG Major General Dushant Singh has said.

Following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday assets at the base were safe.
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16:11   Well done and work hard, Sachin congratulates 1009-run-Pranav
Fifteen-year-old Pranav Dhanawade, who scored an unbeaten 1009 runs on Tuesday, has caught the attention of the original record-breaker of India, Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar, who once held the record for the biggest partnership in school cricket with friend and former Test cricketer Vinod Kambli, congratulated Pranav on becoming the first cricketer ever to cross the four-digit mark in the history of cricket.

Congrats #PranavDhanawade on being the first ever to score 1000 runs in an innings. Well done and work hard. You need to scale new peaks!, Tendulkar tweeted.

Pranav scored 1009 runs off just 323 balls with the help of 59 sixes and 129 fours in an Under-16 school tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
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15:02   Kejriwal and AAP defamed me on Twitter, FB
Finance minister Arun Jaitley still recording his statement in the defamation case against Arvind Kejriwal and 5 AAP functionaries. The FM tells the court, "Raghav Chadha by re-tweeting tweets of Arvind Kejriwal and others has defamed my image in public. They defamed me on Twitter, Facebook and on social media."
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14:52   Between Mr Doval and the deep blue sea
This title, borrowed from a comment posted on Twitter after the Pathankot attack, accurately sums up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's current predicament. His bold opening to Pakistan last week, which shifted the moribund peace dialogue from the morgue to intensive care, depends upon peace -- both on the Indo-Pakistan border, and in the relative absence of terrorist strikes originating from Pakistan. But, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval's inept handling has transformed what should have been a short, intelligence-driven, counter-terrorist operation into something that increasingly seems like a debacle. For the peace dialogue to continue, India cannot afford to gift an aura of success to the terrorist "spoilers', who will inevitably follow up with further strikes. If only for our own sake, India must competently defend itself.

Read Ajai Shukla's column here.
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14:51   Between Mr Doval and the deep blue sea
This title, borrowed from a comment posted on Twitter after the Pathankot attack, accurately sums up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's current predicament. His bold opening to Pakistan last week, which shifted the moribund peace dialogue from the morgue to intensive care, depends upon peace -- both on the Indo-Pakistan border, and in the relative absence of terrorist strikes originating from Pakistan. But, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval's inept handling has transformed what should have been a short, intelligence-driven, counter-terrorist operation into something that increasingly seems like a debacle. For the peace dialogue to continue, India cannot afford to gift an aura of success to the terrorist "spoilers', who will inevitably follow up with further strikes. If only for our own sake, India must competently defend itself.

Read Ajai Shukla's column here.
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14:42   Remembering this magical partnership
On a day that Kalyan-boy Pranav Dhanawade became the first person in history to reach 1009 runs in 323 balls, a nod for Vinod Kambli (16) and Sachin Tendulkar (15), who share an unbroken partnership of 664 runs for Shardashram Vidyamandir in an inter-school match in Mumbai in 1988 -- with both batsmen making unbeaten triple centuries.


Pranav now holds the record for the highest individual score in any form of cricket.
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14:25  
Jaitley tells the Patiala House court. Kejriwal and other five persons had given false and defamatory statements against me and my family members.
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14:22  
An eight-member inter-ministerial team deputed by the Centre to assess the flood damage in Tamil Nadu today met Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who asked them to make an "in-depth assessment" and submit its report to the Union Home Ministry "expeditiously."

The team, led by T V S N Prasad, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, also praised the state government for the rescue, relief and restoration work.

Jayalalithaa, who has demanded a Central assistance of Rs 25,912 crore, told the visiting team of officials that the requirement of funds for relief and restoration of infrastructure "are well beyond the resources available with the state."

She requested the Central team "to make an in-depth assessment of the damage suffered by the state and to submit its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs expeditiously." Jayalalithaa's address to the Central team was released by the government to the media.

Pic: The Porur area of Chennai last month
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14:04   Defamation case: Jaitley reaches court to record statement against Kejriwal
Union minister Arun Jaitley has reached the Patiala House court in New Delhi record his statement in the defamation case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Jaitley, who had sued the Delhi Chief Minister is appearing before the court for a second time   

The Union minister has taken Kejriwal and five leaders of his Aam Aadmi Party to court for accusing him of corruption at the Delhi cricket board which he headed for under his 13-year stewardship.

On December 21, Jaitley had personally visited the court to file the case. He has also filed a civil suit demanding Rs. 10 crore in damages.

Pic: Arun Jaitley when he had appeared in court in the defamation case on December 21.
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13:56  
NIA DG Sharad Kumar to go to #Pathankot tomorrow. 
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13:52   After Pathankot, a break for petroleum
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took time off from the Pathankot briefings and spent two hours with petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior officials of the ministry. The meeting had been fixed in November, and at least six top technical heads made a presentation to the PM on hydro carbon issues.
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13:21  
Pranav's coach says that the innings will boost cricket in Kalyan. It was tough earlier for aspirants to go to Mumbai and train. 
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13:18   Mumbai boy's 1000-run world record!
At the age of 15 Pranav Dhanawade becomes the first person on the planet to reach four digits -- 1000 runs.

Read the report here.
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12:56   Another bomb blast near Indian consulate in Afghanistan in less than 48 hours
Just in: Bomb blast near the Indian consulate in Jalalabad in Afghanistan. The blast took place at about 11.30 am in the city center. No details have yet been released on casualties. The blast was reported 400 metres from the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, but the consulate was not the target, reports ANI.

This is the second blast in less than 48 hours. An intense 25-hour gun battle between security forces and terrorists outside the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif came to an end on Monday night after all the attackers who attempted to storm the building were gunned down. "The clearance operation is over and all the terrorists have been killed,' said provincial police chief Sayed Kamal Sadat, according to AFP.


File pic of the attack on the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat in 2014
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12:38   What lies ahead for Modi after Pathankot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding high-level meetings over the Pathankot terror attack. Two major points have emerged in the last three days. There is a growing feeling inside the government that a two-pronged strategy needs to be adopted -- launch a surprise attack and thenwithdraw from talks. In fact on Monday afternoon Modi had a surprise phone call from the top leadership in the RSS giving a green signal to the twin strategies. This phone call from the RSS has made Modi more focused on the task at hand, say party sources.

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's approach on the day of the parliament attack in 2001 was to rush the army to the borders.But Modi's approach seems to be different. After the dust settles in Pathankot there will be political pressure on Modi to have aline of command and ensure that the National Security Advisor (Ajit Doval) also consults senior Union  ministers as well instead of keeping only the PMO informed of his achievements. 
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12:03  
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved 33% posts at constable level for being filled up by women.
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12:02  
How the Pakistani media reported the Pathankot terror attack. Read
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11:56   Sensex reverses trend, slips 65 pts in late morning deals
The benchmark BSE Sensex slipped from its initial gains and was trading lower by 64.77 points in late morning deals amid renewed selling in telecom, banks, IT, power and FMCG counters despite upbeat Asian cues. Earlier, the market opened in the red on value-buying and short-covering after overnight tumble amid worries of China's economic slowdown and political tensions in the Middle East.
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11:47  
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar to leave for Pathankot at 1pm, will be accompanied by IAF Chief Arup Raha and Army Chief Dalbir Singh.
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11:42   How could I fight 5 armed men? They would have killed me: Gurdaspur SP
Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salvinder Singh, who was abducted by the terrorists involved in the attack on Pathankot's air base, on Tuesday rubbished allegations that the claims made by him were not given credence by the Punjab Police for hours.

"I informed the police as soon as I could. I completed my responsibility. They believed me completely. If you expect that I must have fought against them, then they would have killed me. They were five armed men," he said.

Narrating the incident, Singh said, "When we stopped the car, five persons rushed towards me. Those people had AK 47 with them. They did not ask us the way. They had GPRS with them." Singh further said the terrorists took his mobile phone and spoke in Urdu.

"One of them said 'Salam alaikum' and hung up. They were talking to their commander, I think," he added.

The National Investigating Agency yesterday registered three cases to probe the conspiracy behind the Pathankot terror attack. The first of the three cases pertains to the Gurdaspur SP's abduction.

Security forces continued search and combing operation inside the Pathankot airbase on Tuesday - the fourth day after the attack on the frontline Air Force Station (AFS) by terrorists. A military official said a fifth terrorist was killed on the third day of a siege and at least one attacker remained in the complex, as troops worked to secure the sprawling compound
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11:31   Probity Vs Public life in Lutyens Delhi
AB Bardhan, a respected leader of the Communist Party of India passed away last week. A rare leader, Bardhan is different from the icons the mainline polity is familiar with today. He was simple and therefore honest. Leaders like him are only remembered for their simplicity in personal life and probity in public life. Many political leaders had lived and died, some of them most powerful and popular. Yet, only a few are remembered for probity.  Read more
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11:24   Pathankot attack: Shoes used by terrorists nail Pakistan link
Combing operations inside the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot, which was attacked by Pakistani terrorists on January 2, entered the fourth day today. Reports said a total of six terrorists have been killed so far. The government said it will take time before security agencies complete the mopping up operations as they have to cover a huge area ensuring that no more terrorists are hiding inside the base.

NIA sources told India Today that one of the terrorists was wearing Epcot brand of shoes. Epcot is a popular brand in Pakistan.

Each terrorist was carrying 20-25 kg of explosives, hand grenades besides assault weapons.

A NIA team, which has been tasked to probe the brazen Pathankot attack, has reached the air base.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar alongwith the Air Force and Army chiefs will be visiting the air base later today.


Pic: A jawan keeps watch on the border as the mopping up operations entered the fourth day.
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11:11  
The Last Post ceremony of NSG Lt Col Niranjan in Palakkad, who lost his life in the Pathankot attack.
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11:04  
Sedition Case: The SC directs the Gujarat govt to file a chargesheet against Hardik Patel by January 8; court to hear the matter on January 14.
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11:02   UN condemns attack on Indian Consulate in Afghanistan, silent on Pathankot
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terror attack on the Indian Consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif and underlined the need to protect diplomatic posts, his spokesperson said.

"On the attack on Mazar-e-Sharif, obviously, it is an attack we condemn. Especially in light of what we've said, an attack on a diplomatic outpost -- that needs to be protected," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told PTI when asked to comment on the terror attack on the Indian Consulate and the assault on the Pathankot Air Force base. On the terror attack on the Pathankot air base, Dujarric said he did not have any comment as the operation there was ongoing.
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10:59  
Nisha Biswal @NishaBiswal  tweets: The United States strongly condemns the Jan 2 attack on Indian Air Force Base in Punjab & stands w India in the fight against terrorism.

Nisha Desai Biswal is an Indian-American who is Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State.
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10:53   Sena takes on Modi government, says avenge death of our soldiers
Reacting strongly to the Pathankot airbase terror attack, Shiv Sena took on Centre saying that the Narendra Modi government must avenge death of our soldiers. 

Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece 'Saamna' said, "We had already warned during PM Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan. Terror and peace talks can't go together, now it's high time to hand over Pakistan's Maulana Masood Azhar to India."

The attackers of Pathankot terror strike were believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan and there was speculation that they may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad headed by Maulana Masood Azhar of the Kandahar hijack episode.
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10:33   Armed men blindfolded me, spoke in Urdu: Gurdaspur SP
Before  six suspected Pakistani terrorists carried out the attack on the Pathankot air base that left seven security personnel dead and several injured, they had abducted the Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur Salvinder Singh. Speaking of the incident, the SP today said, " A group of 4-5 men were wearing  Indian Army attire approached me. They were carring AK-47s."

"They took my phone and made calls to Pakistan, The terrorist were speaking in Punjabi and Urdu. I could understand little of their conversation in Urdu as I had no knowledge of the language," Singh further revealed.  Singh also revealed that while they were in the car, the armed men had blindfolded him and he suspected the terrorists had GPRS systems with them as they did not ask for directions. 

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10:20  
JUST IN: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Army, Air Force chiefs will visit Pathankot today.
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09:43  
JUST IN: The Sensex made a gap-up start in trade on Tuesday to gain 100 points, while the  Nifty topped its key support level of 7,800.
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09:19   Unidentified body found inside Pathankot air base
Even as combing operations continue at the Pathankot air base, reports are in that an unidentified body has been found. On Monday, a fifth terrorist was gunned down during operations and defence officials had said that another terrorist too was gunned down but his body had not been recovered. 

The operations at the Air Force base has entered its fourth day today with officials saying that only the sanitisation of the area was pending. 
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09:00   Pathankot martyr Lt Col Niranjans body to be cremated today
The body of NSG commando Lt Col Niranjan, who was killed in the attack on Sunday, was brought to Palakkad on Monday afternoon from Bengaluru. 

His body was accompanied by family members and senior IAF and NSG officials, and was taken to his ancestral village Elambulassery by road from Palakkad for last rites. 

People assembled on both sides of the road to catch a last glimpse of the martyr. It took almost two hours to cover the 20 km distance from the helipad to his house. The cremation will take place this afternoon. 
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08:55   Gaping holes along border, says BSF's Pathankot attack report to Centre
The Border Security Force submitted a report to the Centre about the possible route taken by the attackers of the Pathankot IAF base, claiming there was no breach in the fence but there were some gaping holes along the international border and malfunctioning of electronic surveillance equipment.

Senior BSF officials also visited Bamiyal, a village located in Pathankot, and took stock of the unfenced and riverine areas along the border with Pakistan.

The home ministry has directed the BSF, which guards the international border with Pakistan, to submit a report on the breach by terrorists who sneaked into India and carried out terror strike in Pathankot.

Officials said the BSF claimed in its report that there were no signs or evidence to suggest that the terrorists had breached the fence erected at maximum places along the border in Punjab or neighbouring Jammu.

However, there are numerous pockets and 'nullahs' which are unfenced and growth of elephant grass can provide an easy cover to the infiltrating group, the sources said.

Sources said as per initial reports, the terrorists might have entered India through one of the rivulets, which are unfenced, in Punjab.

Terrorists are believed to have taken route often used by drug smugglers to infiltrate into the border state of Punjab and unleash the deadly attack on the IAF base in Pathankot.
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08:45   Saradha scam chargesheet names P Chidambaram's wife Nalini
In a development, which is likely to increase trouble for former Union Minister P Chidambaram, the Central Bureau of Investigation has named his wife Nalini Chidambaram in a supplementary charge sheet in Saradha scam. The chargesheet names Nalini neither as witness nor accused, but as one who has knowledge of the controversial channel deal.  
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08:38  
ALERT: Former Chief Justice of India Sarosh Kapadia passed away last night. Funeral at Mumbai's Tower of Silence at 3.45 pm today.
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08:30   US expects Pak will take action against Pathankot attackers
The US expects Pakistan will take actions against the perpetrators of the terror attack on IAF base in Pathankot, a top American official said, hours after Islamabad said it is working on the "leads" provided by India. "The government of Pakistan has spoken very powerfully to this and it's certainly our expectation that they'll treat this exactly the way they've said they would," State Department Spokesman John Kirby said. 

Pakistan has said it is working on the "leads" provided by India on this attack. Describing terrorism as a "shared challenge" in South Asia, the US also asked all countries in the region to work together to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks and bring justice to the perpetrators of the Pathankot terrorist attack. 

"We have been clear with the highest levels of the government of Pakistan that it must continue to target all militant groups," Kirby said.


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07:58   Pathankot attack: Terrorists entered air force base on January 1
The terrorists who struck at the airbase in Pathankot in the early hours of January 2 had most likely entered the defence installation during the afternoon of January 1 itself, security officials have said. 

Punjab police, security forces and central intelligence agencies knew this on that day and had, therefore, prepared to pre-empt the attack by deploying men and material at the base beginning that afternoon, a top official said.

Investigations are also on into a possible local angle focusing on why taxi driver Ikagar Singh left his home late in the night after a phone call. Officials said a phone call from Pakistan was made to his number. He left home soon after this, telling his family members that he had received a phone call from a nearby village to take someone to the hospital. 
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03:56   Iran-Saudi crisis 'most dangerous for decades'
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran are at their worst for nearly 30 years.Tensions have spiralled following the execution of Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the subsequent setting ablaze of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, and Riyadh's expulsion of Iranian diplomats.

The struggle between Riyadh and Tehran for political and religious influence has geopolitical implications that extend far beyond the placid waters of the Gulf and encompass nearly every major conflict zone in the Middle East.

Most notably, perhaps, the crisis means prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough in Syria and Yemen now look much more remote, just as international momentum for negotiations seemed to be on the verge of delivering results.

Read this story HERE
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03:42   US appeals to Iran, Saudi Arabia to show restraint
The US today asked Saudi Arabia and Iran to show restraint as the tensions between the two countries erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis over the execution of a Shiite cleric.

Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned the foreign ministers of the two countries in this regard while the White House in a public statement called both Iran and Saudi Arabia to take steps to de-escalate the situation.

"We do continue to be concerned about the need for both the Iranians and the Saudis to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference. Earnest called on both countries to show restraint and avoid further inflaming sectarian tensions between Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shiite-ruled Iran.

"That we are urging all sides to show restraint and to not further inflame tensions that are on quite vivid display in the region. Kerry has been in touch with his Iranian counterpart. US diplomatic officials in Saudi Arabia have been in touch with their counterparts to convey this message," he said.
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03:01   'US concerned over Chinese test flight in South China Sea'
The US today expressed concern over China landing a plane on an artificial island in the strategic South China Sea, saying these are inconsistent with the region's commitments, a day after the Communist giant said it has conducted a "test flight".

"We are aware of reports that China has conducted civilian test flights at Fiery Cross Reef. We are concerned that these test flights have exacerbated tensions and are inconsistent with the region's commitments to exercise restraint from actions that could complicate or escalate disputes," the Pentagon said.

The US, it said, encourages all claimants to actively reduce tensions by refraining from unilateral actions that undermine regional stability and to take steps to create space for meaningful diplomatic solutions.

"This development underscores the pressing need for claimants to publicly commit to a reciprocal halt to further land reclamation, construction of new facilities and militarisation of disputed features, and the need for China and ASEAN to expeditiously conclude a Code of Conduct," the Pentagon said.
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01:00   Charge of human sacrifice in illegal mining area serious: HC
Observing that the allegation of human sacrifice in the report on illegal mining submitted to the Madras high court was a serious one, the court today adjourned the mining issue to February 15.

The first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, made the observation when the report by the then District Collector U Sagayam, appointed as Special Commissioner to go into the illegal mining, came up before it today. Counsel for Sagayam submitted that as per the officer's report, actual loss to the public exchequer was more than Rs 1,11,000 crore. 

Human sacrifices were also found, he submitted. AS officer U Sagayam, appointed by the Madras high court as the legal commissioner to probe "illegal" granite quarrying in this district, has ordered digging of some sites where some persons were allegedly killed as human sacrifice and buried by quarry owners four years ago.
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00:54   Mumbai actress alleges men posing as cops molested her
A television actress today approached police alleging that four persons, whom she claimed to have posed as policemen, molested her at her residence in suburban Kandivali.

Actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who works in daily soaps, claimed in her complaint that the men barged into her flat in Laljipada and left the place only after she threatened to approach the Kandivali police.

However, a police officer denied the allegation saying four policemen in plain clothes had gone to the actress' flat today to trace one Rahul Singh who stays with her and against whom a non-cognisable offence has been registered.

The officer denied any misbehaviour with the actress by the personnel. According to the officer, Rahul had allegedly manhandled a loan recovery agent, Amit Dalvi, when the latter had gone to collect instalment of car loan from him at her house on December 31.

Some police personnel, along with Dalvi, went to the house yesterday but couldn't find Rahul there.
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00:15   Gunfight outside Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif ends
An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists outside the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif came to end tonight with the killing of all the attackers who attempted to storm the Mission building.

While three of the attackers were killed in the gunfight overnight, the remaining were neutralised by the night. "Afghan officials have confirmed that the operation has ended," said a Indian government source.

"The clearance operation is over and all the terrorists have all been killed," said provincial police chief Sayed Kamal Sadat, according to AFP. Some reports said one of the attackers was captured alive but there was no confirmation about it.

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